First Indigenous Supreme Justice Appointed
The Honorable Michelle O Bonsawin’s appointment to the top court was formally confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Office, which marks a monumental moment as she is the first Indigenous person to serve on Canada's highest court. She started on the Supreme Court of Canada on September 1.
“Justice O’Bonsawin is an accomplished jurist with expertise in the areas of mental health, Gladue principles, labor and employment law, human rights, and privacy law,” the press release stated.
Justice Michelle O'Bonsawin is an Abenaki member of the Odanak First Nation. O' Bonsawin served as a judge at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Ottawa for five years, making her the first Indigenous women to do so. She has a PhD in law from the University of Ottawa and has taught law there. She spent eight years as general counsel for the Royal Ottawa HealthCare Group.
According to Justice O’Bonsawin, her greatest contribution to Canadian law and fight for justice is her "effort to assist all involved in the justice and mental health system with a particular emphasis on Indigenous Peoples." She strives for "the judiciary to clarify the legal issues in order to have an inclusive and compassionate legal system for First Nations, Inuit and Métis."
Resources
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/michelle-obonsawin-scc-nomination-1.6556152 https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/michelle-obonsawin-to-start-on-supreme-court-in-september-says-pmo/
https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2022/08/26/honourable-michelle-obonsawin
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/michelle-o-bonsawin-justin-trudeau-1.6563239
