Jesse Abell

Associate

She/Her/Hers
jabell@oktlaw.com

  • Contents

    • Jesse is an Associate at OKT. Her practice focuses on litigating relating to asserting Aboriginal and Treaty rights and title; human rights and discrimination; and advancing Indigenous self-determination.

    Prior to joining OKT, she completed her articles as a Judicial Law Clerk at the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

    Jesse received her J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School, where she won awards for academic excellence. While at Osgoode, she participated in the Kawaskimhon Aboriginal Law Moot, and in the Anishinaabe law camp at Neyaashiinigmiing, with Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation. In addition, she worked as a research assistant with the Indigenous Environmental Justice Project, and as a research assistant on issues related to the duty to consult and accommodate.

    During law school, Jesse also worked as a legal caseworker at community legal clinics, representing clients on employment and human rights law issues and representing clients who experienced gender-based violence. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts (History and English) from the University of King’s College.

    Jesse is a member of the Ontario Bar.

     

    Representative Work

    • Represented Cheona Metals Inc. in its intervention at the British Columbia Court of Appeal, about the status of UNDRIP in BC and Canadian law, supporting Gitxaala Nation and Ehattesaht First Nation in their successful appeal in Gitxaala v British Columbia (Chief Gold Commissioner), 2025 BCCA 430.
    • Represented the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation who, alongside the Ontario Heritage Trust, brought a successful application to require a cottage owner to remove encroachments to protect the sacred area of Nochemowenaing, in Ontario Heritage Trust v Hunter,  2025 ONSC 3379.
    • Represented the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council in their intervention at the Supreme Court of Canada, regarding the right to effective remedies for treaty breaches, in Ontario (Attorney General) v Restoule, 2024 SCC 27.
    • Represented Chiefs of Ontario in its intervention at the Supreme Court of Canada, regarding First Nations’ inherent, s. 35 and UNDRIP right to self-government, in Reference re An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families, 2024 SCC 5.

    Publications and Media

    Recent Articles