Beverley Jacobs facts for kids

Beverley K. Jacobs is a respected Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) leader and lawyer. She was born in 1965. She comes from the Bear Clan of the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Canada. She is well-known for her important work helping families of missing and murdered Indigenous women. She also worked to make the police and justice system fairer for Indigenous people. From 2004 to 2009, she was the president of the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC). Today, she teaches law at the University of Windsor.

About Beverley K. Jacobs

Beverley K. Jacobs was born in 1965. Her family is part of the Bear Clan of the Mohawk Nation. This nation is located on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Ontario, Canada. Her traditional name is Gowehgyuseh. It means "She's visiting." Beverley has one daughter named Ashley. She also has four grandchildren: Nicholas, Tessa, Bryson, and Kenna.

Beverley's Education Journey

Before becoming a lawyer, Beverley K. Jacobs worked as a legal secretary. She decided to go to law school. It was challenging because she was a single mother. Sometimes, she even brought her daughter, Ashley, to class with her. Ashley was eight years old at the time.

Beverley was the only Indigenous student in her first year at the University of Windsor. She helped start the First Nations Law Students Society there. She earned her law degree from the University of Windsor in 1994. Later, in 2000, she received her master's degree in law from the University of Saskatchewan. Beverley also completed a PhD at the University of Calgary. Her studies covered law, sociology, and Indigenous health.

Beverley's Career Highlights

Starting Bear Clan Consulting

After finishing university, Beverley Jacobs became a consultant. She started her own company called Bear Clan Consulting. As a consultant, she advised people on many important topics. These included issues related to the Indian Act, Residential Schools, and Indigenous women's health.

Working with Amnesty International

Beverley's consulting work led her to a project with Amnesty International. This project changed her career path. In 2004, she wrote a very important document. It was called the Stolen Sisters Report. This report showed how Indigenous women in Canada faced unfair and harmful treatment. It also highlighted that law enforcement often failed to protect them. The report helped start the Sisters in Spirit movement. This movement worked to get the government, police, and media to pay attention. They wanted action on the many missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada.

Leading the Native Women's Association of Canada

In 2004, Beverley Jacobs became involved in Indigenous politics. She was elected President of the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC). Her work with families of missing and murdered Indigenous women helped her win. She was re-elected for a second term as President in 2006.

As NWAC president, Beverley secured $10 million in funding from the government. This money helped research 500 cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women. It also helped create a national registry, a hotline, and public education programs.

Vigils became a key part of the Sisters in Spirit movement. Families would gather with pictures of their loved ones. They would light candles or release balloons. These events helped draw media attention to their cause. Bridget Tolley suggested this idea to NWAC.

In 2008, Beverley attended a meeting where Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized. He apologized to survivors for the harms caused by the residential school system. Beverley chose not to run for president again in 2009. Her pregnant cousin went missing in 2008. Her body was found later, and the person responsible was held accountable.

Continuing with Families of Sisters in Spirit

After Beverley left NWAC, the government stopped funding the Sisters in Spirit project. They said they would not fund any future projects using that name. However, the families who had connected through the campaign stayed in touch. They formed online groups and continued to hold vigils. This created a new social movement. In 2012, 163 vigils were held across Canada.

Families also began asking for a National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Women. The government at the time refused. But after a new government was elected in 2015, they quickly announced an inquiry would happen. Beverley continued to practice law part-time. She also remained involved with the Families of Sisters in Spirit movement. She joined the calls for a national inquiry.

Awards and Honours

Beverley K. Jacobs has received many awards for her important work:

• In October 2008, she was honored for promoting peace in Canada. This award came from the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace and other groups.
• In November 2008, she received the Governor General's Award. This award recognized her efforts in advancing women's equality.
• In May 2010, she received a Circle of Honour Esquao Award. This was from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women.
• On December 1, 2016, she received the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law. This award recognized her fight for human rights. It specifically highlighted her work on issues related to Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada.