Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday appointed indigenous justice Michelle O’Bonsawin to the country’s Supreme Court, a historic first in a country in the process of reconciliation with its indigenous peoples. Michelle O’Bonsawin, an Abenaki member of Quebec’s Odanak First Nation, is also “perfectly bilingual” in French and English, a fact pledged to Justin Trudeau at a time when the practice of French in Canada is in decline, according to a recent publication official data.
“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Judge Michelle O’Bonsawin to the Supreme Court of Canada, a body recognized worldwide for its strength, excellence and independence,” Prime Minister Trudeau said in a statement. Michelle O’Bonsawin has been a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice since 2017 and has specialized in many areas throughout her career, including mental health and human rights.
First time first
“As an Indigenous woman growing up in northern Ontario, I have come to appreciate the importance of committed people who provide a strong and representative voice for those who cannot speak for themselves,” the judge wrote in her government-released statement application questionnaire. Before she takes office, a non-binding procedure before Parliament must take place by the end of August.
Michelle O’Bonsawin’s appointment is her second consecutive appointment to the Supreme Court. Last year, Mahmud Jamal became the first non-white person to be appointed to the court.