Jodie-Lynn Waddilove
Legal Counsel, Ministry of the Attorney General (Ontario)
Indigenous Justice Division & MMIWG Joint Inquiry Team
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Jodie-Lynn Waddilove is an Anishnabe (Ojibway) and Lenape (Delaware) lawyer who was born and raised on the Munsee-Delaware Nation in southwestern Ontario.
Jodie-Lynn’s traditional name is “Giim-Mah-Myengun-Kwe” which means Head Chief Wolf Woman. She is a member of the wolf clan. Her parents, Jody and Sherry Waddilove, are both recognized and respected elders in their community.
In 1997, Jodie-Lynn was named as London's first “Young Woman of Distinction.”
Maclean's Magazine has named Jodie-Lynn as "One of Canada’s Top 100 Under 30 to watch in the new millennium.”
In 2004, Jodie-Lynn began her role as Assistant Commission Counsel for the Ipperwash Inquiry. The Commission's mandate was to inquire and report on events surrounding the death of Dudley George, who was shot in 1995 during a protest by First Nations at Ipperwash Provincial Park.
In 2007, Jodie-Lynn joined the Ministry of the Attorney General (Ontario) Crown Law Office – Civil. Given her past employment experiences with the London City Police and the RCMP (O Division, London office) she quickly became a policing law expert. She later joined the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, where she served as in-house counsel and leading prosecutor for the Ontario Provincial Police at their General Headquarters. In addition to prosecuting under the Police Services Act, she represented the O.P.P at various inquests, inquiries and in various civil litigation matters. In 2015, Jodie-Lynn joined MAG’s newest division, the newly created Indigenous (then Aboriginal) Justice Division, where she served as Executive Advisor and Senior Legal Counsel to the Assistant Deputy Attorney General. More recently, she was seconded to Ontario’s Independent Police Oversight Review and served as Senior Legal Counsel to the Honourable Justice Michael H. Tulloch.
Recently, Jodie-Lynn was selected to participate in the 2017 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. As one of the 200 chosen delegates, she participated in a national program that is designed to develop and inspire Canada’s next generation of leaders.
Jodie-Lynn has never consumed any drugs or alcohol and promotes a healthy and proud lifestyle to Aboriginal youth.
More information about Speaking from the Heart: A First Nations Woman’s Perspective