Andrea is Blackfoot from the Piikani Nation. Andrea’s traditional Blackfoot name is iss’sti’skin’ii meaning ‘Pretty Voice’. She received her name at five years of age from Elders in Amskapi Piikuni, Montana.
Andrea completed a B.A. in Social Science at the University of Lethbridge and received a Juris Doctor at the University of Calgary. During law school Andrea had the opportunity to volunteer with Student Legal Aid, Pro Bono Students Canada, and was elected President of the Indigenous Law Students Association (ILSA). As President of ILSA Andrea invited legal minds from across Canada to speak and engage with students while concurrently bringing national First Nation and Metis issues to the forefront of the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Law.
Andrea has extensive experience within the Canadian political realm. She brings seven years of experience working as a political staffer to the highest ranking political officials in Canada. She served three cabinet ministers and the former Premier of Alberta in roles that consisted of advisor, manager and director. As a staunch advocate for Indigenous communities Andrea spent time in the Office of the Alberta Minister of Indigenous Relations, the Office of the Premier of Alberta, the Office of the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada and the Office of the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations.
On the flip side of government, Andrea has four elections under her belt as campaign manager and regional advisor at the local, provincial and national level. These experiences have taught Andrea the importance of grassroots engagement while building, maintaining, and respecting relationships – even if they may sometimes differ in views.
As an articling student with Walsh, Andrea is looking forward to working in the areas of First Nations law, business and corporate law, and civil and commercial litigation.
Andrea enjoys spending time with her family, kayaking and hiking in Waterton Lakes National Park, ladies’ softball league, going to the batting cages, attending pow-wows in Treaty 7 and potlucks.
