Cheyenne Neszo

Cheyenne is an Associate at Cochrane Sinclair. She is of mixed Dakelh, Kānaka Maoli, and European ancestry, and is a proud member of the Lheidli T’enneh Nation. Cheyenne has extensive experience in Aboriginal rights and title, class actions, Indigenous taxation, and general civil litigation. She practices in a range of areas, including Indigenous laws, public law, constitutional law, administrative and regulatory matters, consultation and accommodation matters, class actions and general civil litigation. Cheyenne has represented clients at the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada and the British Columbia Supreme Court.

Cheyenne earned a Master of Laws (Thesis) degree, her research for which was focused on self-determination and self-government in the context of modern treaty fiscal taxation regimes, with a particular emphasis on applying Indigenous laws and utilizing Indigenous Nation constitutions to implement fiscal taxation under modern treaties. Her research analyzed the amelioration of significant flaws in the fiscal taxation system with the goal of furthering Indigenous sovereignty and supporting the social, cultural and economic revitalization of Indigenous Nations.

Cheyenne clerked for the Honourable Justice Robert L. Barnes (ret.) at the Federal Court of Canada. She has also published an article in the Lakehead Law Journal analyzing section 87 of the Indian Act as a government tax expenditure. In addition, Cheyenne has been a guest lecturer on Indigenous taxation and tax policy at Thompson Rivers University, McGill University, and the University of Ottawa.

Outside of work, Cheyenne enjoys spending time with her partner, their three pets, going hiking, cycling and being active in nature.

Education:

• McGill University, LLM (Thesis)
• Thompson Rivers University, Juris Doctor
• Simon Fraser University, Bachelor of Arts

Leadership, Membership and Achievements:

• Law Society of British Columbia
• Indigenous Bar Association
• Canadian Bar Association
• Rathlyn Fellowship, McGill University
• Indigenous Graduate Student Excellence Award, McGill University
• Dean’s Course Prize in Public Lands and Natural Resources, Thompson Rivers University