Canada: Justin Trudeau appoints the first Indigenous judge to the Supreme Court, Michelle O’Bonsawin – franceinfo

Michelle O’Bonsawin, a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice since 2017, is an Abenaki member of the Odanak First Nation in Quebec. Article written by Published on 08/19/2022 21:02 Reading time: 1 min. A historic first, and a new gesture towards reconciliation between Canada and its Indigenous peoples. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed an Indigenous judge, Michelle O’Bonsawin, to sit on the country’s Supreme Court on Friday, August 19. A judge at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice since 2017, Michelle O’Bonsawin is an Abenaki member of the Odanak First Nation in Quebec. Among his areas of specialization acquired throughout his career, mental health and human rights. “As an Indigenous woman growing up in Northern Ontario, I realized the need for dedicated people to provide a strong and representative voice for those who cannot speak for themselves,” the judge wrote. in its application questionnaire made public by the government. She is also “perfectly bilingual” in French and English, specifies the Prime Minister, who had undertaken to appoint someone who meets this criterion at a time when the practice of French is in decline in Canada, according to official data. . Michelle O’Bonsawin must still follow a non-binding procedure before Parliament by the end of August before taking office. His appointment comes just under a year after that of Mahmud Jamal, the first non-white person appointed to the Canadian Supreme Court in October 2021. Share: Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share by email Share link