Maggie Wente

Maggie Wente is a Partner at OKT. She is a member of Serpent River First Nation born and raised in Toronto and is of Anishinaabe and settler descent. Maggie graduated from the University of Toronto’s combined LL.B/M.S.W. program and from McGill University (B.A., Philosophy) and has completed the Harvard Mediation Intensive program and is a Registered Social Worker.

Maggie advises First Nations and regional Indigenous groups on a broad range of subjects as a litigator and a solicitor. Maggie has a particular focus on advocating for equality in child welfare services and assisting First Nations exercise jurisdiction over child welfare. Maggie also advises and litigates about a broad range of First Nations governance matters, such as election codes and membership codes, land management, and the responsibilities of First Nations councils and acts for First Nations in court when their decisions and laws are challenged. She has appeared at a variety of administrative tribunals, trial courts, courts of appeal in Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, in the Federal Court, and at the Supreme Court of Canada. Maggie is also trained in mediation and offers dispute resolution services to assist motivated parties resolve disputes involving Indigenous issues.

Maggie is actively involved in her community and as a frequent speaker at conferences and CPD events, teaching at law schools and, and as a mentor. She serves as a President of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, on the Law Program Committee with Women’s LEAF, and as a volunteer with the McCall MacBain Scholars. She is past-President of the Board of Directors at Aboriginal Legal Services and was a Commissioner at the Ontario Human Rights Commission from 2006 to 2015.

Maggie is a member of  the Ontario bar and the Newfoundland and Labrador bar, and is listed as Most Frequently Recommended in “Indigenous Law” in the Lexpert Directory on Indigenous Law and in Best Lawyers in Canada in “Indigenous Practice”