Courtney Daws

Courtney's roots are deeply embedded in the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. With nearly two decades of experience, she stands as a dedicated ally and a seasoned lawyer. Her expertise extends to being a strategic advisor, where she has tirelessly worked alongside and in support of First Nations communities across Canada. Her work focuses on a range of critical areas including legal, policy, governance, negotiation, and political matters, all aimed at fostering self-determination and driving transformative change for these communities.

In 2023, Courtney embraced a new chapter in her career by joining the BC First Nations Justice Council as the Provincial Director for Legal Aid. Her journey before this was marked by numerous high-level roles across various sectors, all aligned with her commitment to advocating for Indigenous peoples. Between 2010 and 2015, as the Director of Operations/Chief of Staff at the BC Assembly of First Nations, and later at the Assembly of First Nations – Yukon Region (2022-2023), she delved into strategic policy, governance, and advocacy. Her efforts were instrumental in propelling forward First Nations' perspectives in diverse fields, including justice, governance, education, environment and climate change, Aboriginal rights and title, treaty rights, fisheries, child welfare, and economic development.

Her tenure as Vice President, Governance and Policy, at Castlemain from 2016 to 2022 was characterized by leading numerous policy, program, governance review, and development projects, as well as community engagement initiatives with Indigenous peoples.

In her legal practice at a boutique Aboriginal law firm, Courtney's work was multifaceted. It encompassed Aboriginal rights and title litigation, modern-treaty negotiations, and leading community meetings with self-governing First Nations. Her role in these meetings was pivotal in assimilating community feedback into the development of draft policies and procedures.

Educationally, Courtney's foundation is solid, holding a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), both from the University of British Columbia. Her focus during her LLB was on Aboriginal law, a testament to her dedication to this field. A practicing member of the Law Society of British Columbia since 2005, Courtney's contributions were recognized when she received the 2020 YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the category of Reconciliation – Ally, an honor that reflects her unwavering commitment to supporting and uplifting Indigenous communities.