Legal Experts Defending Nature and Indigenous Rights
Legal Advocates for Nature’s Defence (LAND) is an environmental law non-profit dedicated to advancing access to justice in Northern Ontario, to protect nature and Indigenous rights. We are the only civil society organization based in Northern Ontario to provide bono legal representation to individuals and communities most impacted by climate and environmental injustices.
Our Mission
Our mission is to advance Indigenous-led conservation efforts, protect endangered ecosystems, and ensure Canada meets its international commitments to combat climate change and preserve biodiversity.
We prioritize providing legal services and support for initiatives that help advance the two most critical targets of our planet:
- Climate
Cutting climate damaging emissions by 50% by 2030 to combat climate change.
- Biodiversity
Protecting 30% of lands and waters, including reducing toxics in the environment, by 2030.
These targets as recognized by the United Nations and signed on to by Canada, are critical if we are to halt the twin crises of nature and biodiversity loss.
Through advocacy, law reform, and legal representation, our work:
Champions the introduction of first-of-its-kind legislation aimed at protecting endangered ecosystems and embedding Canada’s international biodiversity targets into law.
Pushes for ambitious climate action that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, transitions communities to renewable energy sources, and promotes climate resilience across Northern Ontario
Responds to critical access to justice needs by providing legal services to communities and individuals who are most impacted by climate and environmental injustices
Our Legal Team
Kerrie Blaise is the founder of LAND and an accomplished environmental and Indigenous rights lawyer. Today, she is one of only a handful of public-interest environmental lawyers who serve Indigenous communities, non-profits, and community leaders, pushing for the protection of Indigenous and environment rights in response to urgent threats to lands and waters. Kerrie is a driven advocate, representing those who have been most affected by development, environmental hazards, and systemic racism, and she works to amplify their voices – whether in the courts, before lawmakers, or within their communities – to precipitate change.
Kerrie is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School (2015) and was a visiting student at the Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia. With a Master of Science from the University of Edinburgh and Bachelor of Environmental Studies from York University, Kerrie’s background in ecological science informs her approach in creating solutions in law that safeguard the health of communities, species, and their habitats.
Kerrie was previously a staff lawyer at the Canadian Environmental Law Association and maintains many notable advisory positions, including as co-chair of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Caucus, Réseau-Canadian Environmental Network, and as a member of the Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership and Domestic Law and Policy Stream.
Jon Cada, from Mississauga First Nation, joins LAND as our board chair. With years of experience from his career in economic development, working alongside Indigenous and community partners throughout the Robinson Huron Treaty area, he lends critical expertise in communications, policy and organizational development, alongside youth engagement and leadership training.
Jon has been a mentor and supporter to LAND since its founding in 2023 and a contributor to several other not-for-profit organizations across Ontario that service the arts, youth engagement and economic sectors.
Jon is particularly attuned the need for cross-cultural awareness, and among his efforts, has been the promotion of Indigenous tourism in his home area. From amplifying dialogue to shift policy directions, to creating educational platforms at local, regional and provincial levels to help inform the adoption of new strategies at the national scale, Jon is adept at pushing for change. Jon continues to work with Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners to inform cross-cultural awareness and new thinking on the delivery of place-based and sustainable economic models, including for tourism, and scale their delivery to benefit entire regions.
Jon is also active in projects – from food security to youth empowerment – that would allow for the development of new, community-based workforce opportunities and strategies that aim to adapt to a community and region’s strengths – cognizant of the barriers they also face – across Northern Ontario. To move these projects forward and assist Northern Ontario in meeting community demands of the day, Jon is in frequent dialogue with unions, school boards, post-secondary institutions, community leadership tables and community members.
Neesha Fernandes is a social worker whose work has focused on young people and their families in shelter, court, and school settings. Neesha recognizes the power of relationships in social systems, and our responsibility to support future generations. This informs her practice in Toronto and the surrounding area, where she was born and raised.
Neesha has a Master of Social Work from Toronto Metropolitan University (previously Ryerson University), and is a registered social worker in Ontario. Neesha has been practicing social work for 13 years, where she continuously builds upon her educational foundation of anti-oppressive, critical social work, to support clients in their personal relationships and navigation of larger systems.
When Neesha takes off her social work hat, she almost always finds herself outside and often cycling or paddling. Most recently, Neesha is a proud participant of the annual Two Row On The Grand paddle, which is a symbolic renewal of the Two Row Wampum. Neesha believes that an increased connection to nature has the potential to shift how we heal, relate to each other, and protect ecosystems.
Kanisha Acharya-Patel (she/her) is a staff lawyer at LAND and a passionate advocate for intersectional environmental justice. Through her academic and professional experiences, Kanisha has developed a strong understanding of the social, political and legal aspects underpinning Canada’s approach to biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and Indigenous rights.
Kanisha is eager to build her career in public interest environmental law and shares LAND’s commitment to advancing environmental and Indigenous rights through law reform, legal representation and public legal education. Having done extensive research on the importance of intersectionality in environmental advocacy, Kanisha is mindful in ensuring that her advocacy is inclusive and amplifies the interests of those disproportionately impacted by environmental degradation.
Kanisha has a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Conservation from the University of British Columbia, and a law degree from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, where she was awarded the Elizabeth May Prize for Environmental Service and graduated with specialized certificates in environmental law and Aboriginal and Indigenous law. Kanisha’s background in science and law allows her to analyze complex socio-environmental issues in a holistic manner. In studying the history of the Crown-Indigenous relationship at length during law school, Kanisha developed a strong understanding of Aboriginal and Treaty rights, the ongoing impacts of colonization and the importance of Indigenous-led conservation. Kanisha is eager to use her legal training to advocate for Indigenous self-determination in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Kanisha completed her summer law student placements with East Coast Environmental Law and the Canadian Environmental Law Association, and articled with Ecojustice before being called to the Ontario Bar in June 2023. Since then, Kanisha has worked as a Law Reform Specialist with the Women’s Healthy Environments Network (WHEN), where she advocated for stronger laws and policies that better protect women, BIPOC communities and other marginalized populations from environmental health harms. In her spare time, Kanisha sits on the Board of Directors at WHEN, volunteers with Toronto Cat Rescue and enjoys pottery, baking and watching documentaries.
Julia Hambleton is LAND’s Operations and Outreach Director. She has supported and worked with non-profits in the environmental movement and the arts for over twenty-five years. She is driven to support those with a vision to preserve nature, build healthy communities and realize human potential. Her interest in environmental law and social justice began as an Office Manager at Lake Ontario Waterkeeper and was further inspired by her time as a Legal Assistant at Canadian Environmental Law Association.
With degrees in both music and education she has performed clarinet across Canada and taught music to underserved communities in Toronto. She is excited to bring all her skills, values and experience towards LAND full-time.
Jana Abu Deyah (she/her) joins LAND as our 2025 summer law student. Jana is entering her second year of law school at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. Her placement has been made possible thanks to the generous contribution by the Law Foundation of Ontario, who funds placements where students can gain legal experience in the fields of Indigenous and environmental law, and support access to justice issues.
Jana brings a passion for advocacy and a deep intellectual curiosity, with the aim of creating meaningful impact in every space she occupies.
Belal Halaweh provides volunteer technical support to the LAND team. Fascinated by computers and the internet from a young age, he believes technology should be accessible to everyone. Belal has significant experience in the Information Technology sector and currently works as a Systems Administrator with the College of Early Childhood Educators. Always on hand when needed, we are so grateful for his technical support and knowledge. When not straining his eyes staring into the blue light, Belal enjoys watching football and spending time with his cat Raymond.
