Jessica Mayhew
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Jessica Mayhew is a 28-year-old Métis law student, currently in her final year of the JD program at the University of Victoria.
She was born in High Level, in Region 6 of the Métis Nation of Alberta, on Treaty 8 territory. Her family names include Charles, Lambert, Lizotte, Lafferty, Smith, and Bird, stemming from Fort Vermilion and Rocky Lane. She grew up primarily in MNA Region 3, on Treaty 6/7 Territory, in Red Deer.
She recently found out that Colby Lizotte, the keynote speaker, is her distant cousin.
She currently resides in sovereign Nuxalk territory, where she is picking many thimble berries, dreaming of the days she picked raspberries with her grandfather.
She believes in centering the lived experiences of community members in all the work that she does, and in fundamental mutual respect for different ways of knowing and being. She also believes that when we pool our strengths together and believe in ourselves and each other, beautiful things are possible.