Jaime Battiste facts for kids

Jaime Battiste (born in 1979) is a Canadian politician. He was elected to represent the area of Sydney—Victoria in the House of Commons of Canada. He is a member of the Liberal Party. Battiste was first elected in the 2019 Canadian federal election. He made history as the first Mi'kmaw Member of Parliament in Canada.

About Jaime Battiste's Early Life and Education

Jaime Battiste's parents are both well-known scholars. His father, James (Sákéj) Youngblood Henderson, is a Chickasaw legal expert. His mother, Marie Battiste, is a Miꞌkmaq scholar. Both of his parents have received Indspire awards. These awards celebrate Indigenous people who have made important contributions to justice and education in Canada.

Battiste grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He finished high school at Evan Hardy Collegiate in 1997.

From 2005 to 2006, Battiste helped lead the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council. This group works to represent the voices of young Indigenous people.

He also served on the Content Advisory Committee for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. This committee helps decide what stories and information the museum shares.

Battiste studied law and is a graduate of Dalhousie Law School. He played a key role in creating a plan to teach about treaties in Nova Scotia schools.

In 2017, he received the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers. This medal recognizes people who have made significant volunteer contributions.

Besides his political work, Battiste is also a musician. His band, 2nd Generation, has won an East Coast Music Award in 2024.

Jaime Battiste's Political Career

In April 2019, Jaime Battiste announced he wanted to become a candidate for the Liberal Party. He aimed to represent the Sydney—Victoria area in the 2019 Canadian federal election. He won the chance to be the Liberal candidate on July 13, 2019.

On October 21, 2019, Battiste was elected as the Member of Parliament for Sydney—Victoria. This was a historic moment as he became the first Mi'kmaq Member of Parliament.

Since 2019, Battiste has been the Chair of the Liberal Indigenous Caucus. This group focuses on issues important to Indigenous communities. He works to increase funding for these communities. He also supports continued efforts towards reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and Canada.

Battiste has also focused on protecting the environment. He successfully passed a private member’s motion, M-35. This motion helps bring attention to important environmental issues.

On December 3, 2021, Battiste was given a new role. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. In this role, he helps the Minister with their duties related to Indigenous affairs.

During his second term as an MP, Battiste has spoken out about the Indian Act. He advocates for changes to remove the "Second Generation Cut-Off." This rule affects who is recognized as an Indian under the Act.

In September 2024, Battiste made a comment about people in Atlantic Canada. He later apologized for his remarks on social media.

Battiste plans to run for re-election in the 2025 Canadian federal election. He will be a candidate in the new area called Sydney—Glace Bay.

He is also running to become the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. This election will happen after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau steps down. Battiste is the first Indigenous person to run for this leadership position.