Roberta Jamieson facts for kids
Roberta L. Jamieson, OC is a Canadian lawyer and a strong voice for First Nations people. She made history as the first Indigenous woman in Canada to earn a law degree. She was also the first person not in Parliament to be part of a special committee in the House of Commons of Canada. Plus, she was the first woman to become the Ontario Ombudsman, a public helper who looks into complaints about government services.
Early Life and Education
Roberta Jamieson is a member of the Six Nations of the Grand River. She went to McGill University and the University of Western Ontario. She finished her law degree in 1976.
Working for Change
Roberta Jamieson mainly worked as a policy advisor for the government. This means she helped create and improve rules and plans. From 1985 to 1989, she was a commissioner on the Indian Commission of Ontario. This role involved helping to solve issues for Indigenous communities.
From 1989 to 1999, she served as Ontario's provincial ombudsman. An ombudsman is like a public helper. They look into complaints from people about government services to make sure things are fair.
Roberta Jamieson was also the first person who was not a Member of Parliament to join a special committee of the House of Commons. This committee focused on how Indigenous communities could govern themselves.
Awards and Recognition
Roberta Jamieson is known for her work in finding new ways to solve disagreements. This is called alternative dispute resolution. She received the Goodman Fellowship from the University of Toronto in 1991. In 1992, she won the Mary Parker Follet Award from the international Association for Conflict Resolution.
On April 13, 1994, she was given the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honors. She officially became a Member of the Order of Canada on March 1, 1995.
In 1998, Roberta Jamieson received a National Aboriginal Achievement Award for her work in law and justice. Later, in 2004, she became the president and CEO of the organization that gives out these awards, the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. This group raises money to help Indigenous students go to college and university.
In October 2017, Roberta L. Jamieson received the Inter-American Award. This award celebrates people who have helped build cultural connections between different countries in the Americas.
On June 30, 2016, she was promoted to an Officer of the Order of Canada. This was for her important work helping Indigenous people across Canada. Especially for improving funding and chances for Indigenous youth in education.
Community Involvement
Roberta Jamieson has also been involved in many charitable activities. She helped start the Canadian Native Law Students Association. She also helped create the Centre for Research in Women's Health.
She is a founding chair of ImagineNATIVE, an international festival that shows the work of Indigenous artists. In the past, she also advised the Minister of Heritage Canada on national gatherings about Indigenous art and cultural tourism.
