As one of Woodward and Company’s lawyers, Tara’s practice focuses on governance support and section 35 litigation. Tara has experience working with Indigenous nations to identify, develop, and implement their Indigenous laws in culturally informed ways. In addition to working in communities, Tara also has experience advocating for her clients in the Canadian court system, having appeared at both the Supreme Court of Canada and Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench.
Before joining Woodward and Company, Tara served as a Judicial Law Clerk at the Federal Court of Canada to the Honourable Justice Paul Favel and interned at the Senate of Canada in Senator Yvonne Boyer’s office. She also worked as a summer student and interned for two notable law firms that serve Indigenous nations across the country. In these roles Tara gained experience in First Nation election disputes, class actions, and consultation and accommodation.
Prior to being called to the Bar in 2022, Tara earned a Bachelor of Arts in Global Development and Political Studies from Queen’s University. She obtained her Juris Doctorate at the University of Ottawa, where she graduated Cum Laude and participated in the Dean’s Legal Research and Writing Fellowship. Throughout law school, Tara held four different research assistantships focusing on access to justice, Aboriginal law, and Indigenous legal traditions.
Tara is deeply committed to supporting Indigenous nations forge space to assert their inherent jurisdiction. Whether it be in court, or working to strengthen Indigenous laws, Tara is honoured to be part of the work nations are undertaking to strengthen their self-government and self-determination.