Roberta Jamieson facts for kids

Roberta L. Jamieson is a Canadian lawyer and a strong advocate for Indigenous people. She made history as the first Indigenous woman in Canada to earn a law degree. She was also the first person who wasn't a politician to be part of a special committee in the House of Commons of Canada, and the first woman to become the Ontario Ombudsman.

Who is Roberta L. Jamieson?

Roberta L. Jamieson is a proud member of the Six Nations of the Grand River. She studied at McGill University and the University of Western Ontario, earning her law degree in 1976. After becoming a lawyer, she mostly worked as an advisor for government groups.

Important Roles and Achievements

Roberta L. Jamieson has held many important positions where she worked to help people and improve things for Indigenous communities.

Helping People as an Ombudsman

From 1989 to 1999, Ms. Jamieson served as Ontario's provincial ombudsman. An ombudsman is like a public helper who investigates complaints from citizens about government services. She helped make sure that government bodies were fair and responsive to people's needs.

Working for Indigenous Self-Government

Ms. Jamieson was the first person who was not a Member of Parliament to be appointed to a special committee in the House of Commons. This committee focused on Indigenous self-government, meaning Indigenous communities having more control over their own affairs.

Awards and Honors

Roberta L. Jamieson has received many awards for her important work. She is known for helping to develop ways to solve problems without going to court, which is called alternative dispute resolution.

In 1994, she was awarded the Order of Canada, which is one of the highest honors a Canadian citizen can receive. This award recognizes people who have made a big difference to Canada. In 2016, she was promoted to an Officer of the Order of Canada. This was for her work in improving funding, access, and opportunities for Indigenous youth in education.

In 1998, she received a National Aboriginal Achievement Award for her work in law and justice.

Leading Indspire and Supporting Students

In 2004, Roberta L. Jamieson became the president and CEO of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, now known as Indspire. This organization raises money from governments, companies, and individuals. They use these funds to provide scholarships and bursaries to help Indigenous students go to college or university. Her leadership at Indspire has helped many young Indigenous people achieve their educational dreams.

In October 2017, she received the Inter-American Award. This award celebrates people who have helped build cultural connections between different countries in the Americas.

Making a Difference: Charitable Work

Roberta L. Jamieson has also been involved in many charitable activities. She helped start the Canadian Native Law Students Association and the Centre for Research in Women's Health. She also helped create ImagineNATIVE, an international festival that shows the work of Indigenous artists.