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Jolene Ashini is a member of the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation, in Labrador. Jolene is an Articling student at OKT. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Acadia University, and was among the first graduating cohort of the Joint Degree Law Program in Common Law and Indigenous Legal Orders (JD/JID) at the University of Victoria. Jolene is the first Labrador Innu woman to obtain a law degree, and the first Innu person to become a licensed legal practitioner.
Raised by a prominent Innu leader, Jolene has spent much time in Nutshimit (on the land), learning and applying the teachings of the Innu while navigating colonial education, legal and governance systems in Canada. Her passion for equity and the law started at a young age where she experienced the injustices that the Innu faced while attempting to gain not only recognition for rights, but as Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Jolene had served as a Band Councillor for her First Nation, where she realized that to do more for her community and other communities, she needed to further her education in order to help apply the law fairly to all Indigenous people.
While in school, Jolene has dedicated her time to the Indigenous Student Society of Acadia, serving as Vice President and as Co-Chair of the Indigenous Law School Association at the University of Victoria
