Neala Hayratiyan

Neala recently completed her third year at McGill University’s Faculty of Law where she will attain her Juris Doctorate and Bachelor of Civil Law. Neala completed her undergraduate degree in human rights with a minor in Indigenous studies at the University of Wilfrid Laurier.

During her degrees, Neala studied under the tutelage of Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, and Métis professors. Among her courses, her courses on traditional ecological knowledge, Indigenous pedagogy, Indigenous legal traditions, and Indigenous Peoples and the State taught her the importance of holistically advancing Indigenous rights based on each community’s unique needs.

Neala was also an active member of McGill’s Indigenous Law Students Association and Laurier’s Indigenous Students Association. Currently, Neala serves as an executive member at Rooted: A Publication on Indigenous Law. In this role, Neala works alongside Indigenous contributors to platform views on Indigenous law. She played an integral role in the volumes on Kinship and is working to publish the latest volume called Learning from Creation.  

Neala was recognized for excellence in legal advocacy in law school and was awarded the Alumni Gold Medal upon completing her undergraduate degree. Neala also won the Best Undergraduate Thesis award. In her spare time, Neala enjoys painting, reading, and travelling.