The purpose of the legal clinic is to provide legal advice and assistance to residents of the District of Thunder Bay, particularly Indigenous people, who need assistance with poverty law issues.

Our community legal clinic is an independent organization with an all-Indigenous Board of Directors. We are funded by Legal Aid Ontario.

Our focus is on helping people get income maintenance benefits and maintain access to housing.

We also organize and present community legal education workshops and work with the community for organized, positive change.

We offer our services at no cost to people with low incomes who meet our financial eligibility guidelines.

The main areas of law that we deal with include:

Income Maintenance

Guidance and advocacy for:

  • Ontario Works (OW)
  • ODSP & CPP Disability
  • Employment Insurance (EI)
  • Canada Child Benefit

Tenant Rights

Protecting your right to safe housing, including disputes and representation regarding tenant rights under the Residential Tenancies Act.

Assistance may be available for other areas of poverty law, such as income tax returns, and completing applications.

Community Programs

Awenen Niin ID Bank

The Awenen Niin Identification Program provides an ID Bank for people with low income.

Good Food Box

Thunder Bay Good Food Box host site.

Family Duty Counsel

Family Duty Counsel lawyer available in our Geraldton and Marathon office, as scheduled.

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic’s head office and branch offices are located on the Traditional Territory of the Anishinaabe and Metis people, and that we operate throughout First Nation communities including signatories to the Robinson Superior Treaty of 1850 and Treaty 9 (Nishnawbe-Aski Nation), and unceded traditional lands. We are committed to adhering to the spirit of these treaties and respecting the inherent rights of Indigenous people. This includes not only sharing the land, but ensuring that Indigenous people are treated with respect and dignity, and are afforded all of the rights to which they are entitled.

The District of Thunder Bay is home to Indigenous people from across Turtle Island which includes First Nations, Metis and Inuit people. We acknowledge the contributions of our relatives for their care of Mother Earth.