jordan helm, Lawyer (he,hiM)

Jordan is Canadian-born and he was raised within the territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən, Xwsepsum and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, also known as Victoria, BC. He comes from a blended family background and values his small but amazing family.

Jordan has extensive experience providing legal services to First Nations, Indigenous entities, individuals and businesses in the areas of corporate law, commercial buy-sell, real estate law and estate planning.

Jordan also has extensive personal business experience as he operated a solo law practice for nearly 10 years, and was part of a law partnership with 3 other lawyers for 3 years.

Before this, Jordan worked overseas in Ghana and Bangkok, as well as with the BC Securities Commission, the BC Ministry of Justice, and at the Law Centre as a law student supervisor.

In Jordan’s free time, he enjoys snowboarding, biking, hiking, travelling, reading, and scuba diving. He also plays the drums and is a talented musician on various instruments.

• Juris Doctor in Law – University of Victoria

• Bachelor of Arts w/ Major in Philosophy – University of Victoria

Heather Adams, Indigenous Governance Analyst (She/Her)

Heather was born in Treaty 7 territory (Calgary) and has lived in Coast Salish territory for the past 15 years, currently calling the territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən, Xwsepsum and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples home. Her ancestral lineage is Scottish.

Heather is a recent graduate of the University of Victoria’s joint degree program in Canadian Common Law and Indigenous Legal Orders (JD/JID). Prior to law school, Heather held positions with a local First Nation government where she supported land and environmental governance initiatives under a Land Code, managed consultation requests related to developments throughout the territory, and successfully advocated for on-the-ground recognition of Indigenous jurisdiction.  

During her time in law school, Heather deepened her engagement with legal pluralism, examining the opportunities and challenges of working across Canadian and Indigenous legal orders. She worked collaboratively with Anishinaabe and Dene communities during two field school semesters to support community-based governance projects. With a background in environmental science, Heather has a longstanding interest in natural resource law and has written on the intersection of forest management regulations, property regimes, and Indigenous rights and title.    

Heather will begin her articles with the BC Ministry of Attorney General in 2027.

Beyond her professional interests, Heather enjoys spending time in the garden, studying herbal medicine, exploring the beauty of Coast Salish territory, and reading to her two young daughters.

• Juris Doctor and Juris Indigenarum in Law – University of Victoria

• Bachelor of Science w/ Major in Environmental Science and Specialization in Applied Biology (Honours with Distinction) – Simon Fraser University

Sonya Pighin, Lawyer (shE,her)

Sonya is a member of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, and she belongs to the Gitdumden (Bear/Wolf) Clan of the Wet’suwet’en Peoples (Pete and Joseph families). She also has Italian and French roots (Pighin and Houle families).

Since 2007, Sonya has focussed her energy on gaining knowledge and experience in the areas of aboriginal, administrative, constitutional and human rights law. She acts as in-house legal counsel for various First Nations, and has worked with over 30 Indigenous communities / entities on improving their governance systems, developing their laws and addressing their legal needs.

In addition to practicing law, Sonya has extensive experience in dispute resolution, including mediation, negotiation, and adjudication. From 2021 to 2025, she was a member of the BC Human Rights Tribunal. In 2026, she became an adjudicator at the Law Society of BC Tribunal, a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC Investigations Committee, and Chair of the Splatsin Nation’s Election Appeals Board. In the past, Sonya has held positions within the BC College of Social Workers (Board of Directors), BC First Nations Justice Council, New Zealand Office of Treaty Settlements, Office of the BC Ombudsperson, Office for the Representative of Children and Youth in BC, New Zealand Ministry of Children, Youth and Families (Youth Justice Team), and BC Ministry of Child and Family Development (Aboriginal Child and Youth Mental Health Team). For more details regarding Sonya’s professional background, you can view her LinkedIn Page here.

In Sonya’s spare time she enjoys: backcountry hiking, snowboarding, scuba diving, mountain biking, kayaking and camping. She also enjoys music of all genres, fire dancing and travel.

• Master of Laws w/ Specialization in Constitutional Law – York University

• Juris Doctor in Law – University of Victoria

• Bachelor of Arts w/ Major in Criminology – Vancouver Island University