A member of the Anisininew from Kistiganwacheeng (Garden Hill First Nation in northern Manitoba) through his father, and Yokut, specifically Wukchumni, from Tule River Indian Reservation in central California through his mother, Wuttke-Stanton’s journey has been shaped by deep roots and an unwavering support from his community.
“For me, humility comes from my community and my family. It’s how I was raised,” he says. “My parents especially enforced that a win for you is a win for everybody in your community. Without them I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be in the place where I am right now.”
That ethic of shared success shaped his leadership as Co-President of the Indigenous Law Students' Governance (ILSG) this past academic year, a role he carried with intentionality and grace. “I think it’s really important that we all view each other as equals,” he says of his work with ILSG. “When we make decisions or assign tasks, it’s very collaborative. We do everything together and with the goal of reaching consensus.
“Of course I’m proud of the things I accomplish, but I can’t take all the credit for things I didn’t do on my own.”
Wolfgang Wuttke-Stanton
"I always thank all the wonderful people helping me and in turn, I want to share the spotlight with them, share our successes and lift them up as well."
This collaborative spirit was evident during his participation in the 2025 Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal Moot. Kerry Young, a lawyer with First Peoples Law LLP and a Kawaskimhon coach, shared:
“Wolfgang embodies humility – He is humble and honest and conducts himself in a way that shows that he does not see himself as more or less important than any other living being... He always made sure that everyone had a voice at the table.”
Patricia Lawrence, also a coach and a partner at First Peoples Law LLP, echoed those sentiments:
“From the very beginning, Wolfgang impressed me with his quiet but confident leadership style. His focus on ensuring everyone on the team had their views heard and reflected in the work of the group… was something I learned from [him] and hope to emulate in my own work.”
For Wuttke-Stanton, building and sustaining a network has been essential to navigating law school. “Community has been integral to my success, both my community back home and the community of Indigenous students [at Fauteux],” he shares. “We study together, share summaries, offer advice… When we have doubts about ourselves or our work, we turn to each other.”
He credits Tasha Simon, Senior Specialist Indigenous Programs, and his peers in ILSG for fostering a strong sense of belonging. “Without them, my imposter syndrome would be much greater,” he says. “Having that support has made a very positive difference.”
His home community has also been a bedrock of encouragement. “They call me from time to time to tell me how proud they are of me,” he says. “I’m only the fourth person from my community to go to law school; the first might have been my dad. My community really values education and they really believe that a win for one of us is a win for all of us. In fact, they sponsored me to go to law school, so without them I’d be facing a lot of debt.”
After graduation, Wolfgang will article at Nahwegahbow Corbiere, a firm renowned for its advocacy on behalf of First Nations. He is also considering a Master’s and PhD in law, potentially working internationally with the UN or in Europe. He has a bold long-term vision:
“My big goal for the future is to establish a coalition of Indigenous lawyers from North to South America working for Indigenous people and their rights.”
Wuttke-Stanton has a deep interest in researching Aboriginal law and the implementation of Indigenous laws into Canadian laws. For him, this work goes beyond reconciliation. It’s about recognition and respect for Indigenous legal orders. “Our laws have existed, and they still do exist, and now we face the question of where they fit into Canadian law,” he explains. “Canada’s democracy plays off Indigenous legal ordinances and their governance structures. These played an important role in establishing relationships between the Crown and Indigenous peoples and creating Treaties.
“Then there came a time when our legal traditions weren’t [recognized], and now we are beginning a stage of reconciliation.” He doesn’t know what the future holds, with respect to repairing the relationship between Canada and Indigenous people – but he knows he wants to be a part of the solution.