Shawndah Rennie

Shawndah Rennie (she/her) is a proud Métis woman and Juris Doctor candidate at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law, with over a decade of experience in legal and community support roles. Her work is grounded in a commitment to helping others, particularly youth. She has served as a Child Youth Care Worker and spent seven years with Legal Aid Manitoba in Child Protection, Youth Criminal, and Adult Criminal Law.

Beyond the legal field, she is active in Indigenous youth mentorship, community volunteerism, and initiatives such as “Socktober,” collecting and donating socks to Main Street Project. In early 2025, she helped organize the first national Symposium on the Continuum of Legal Education in Truth and Reconciliation, hosted by the Council of Canadian Law Deans and the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, serving as both Research Assistant and Planning Subcommittee member.

She will also be conducting research with Marc Kruse, Director of Legal Learning and Services at Robson Hall, on the application of Gladue principles and the impact of their dismissal in court. Her legal interests include indigenous law, child protection law, and youth and adult criminal law. She brings empathy, resilience, and a strong work ethic, striving to make a meaningful impact in legal and community spaces. Shawndah is working with the CHRR on research related to the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry.