Supreme Court Justice O’Bonsawin
Written by Jeremy Zafran on 1 September 2022
The appointment of a new Supreme court justice has received some kind words of support from Kahnàwake. The newest Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada is Michelle O’Bonsawin, who begins her first day as a member of Canada’s highest court today. Lawyer Tonya Perron, elected official with the Mohawk Council of Kahnàwake, sits on the Justice portfolio is positive that an Indigenous voice will be heard at the highest court in the land:
“The diversity of the Supreme Court Justices plays an huge role in the decision-making, so, hopefully this certainly will add that Indigenous element to those decisions and the consideration of Indigenous peoples when the matters before the court are matters that touch particularly Indigenous people so that’s why this is very exciting.”
Perron suggesting that such an appointment can be inspiring for the next generation:
“I know for a fact that we have at least one young lady from our community that is studying law to become a lawyer and maybe that’s a dream of hers to eventually reach that level and now that door has been opened, so absolutely positive all the way around and it’s going to be very interesting to see her style of decision-making.”
In a letter sent out yesterday, Ohén:ton I:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer offered congratulations on behalf of both the MCK and the community. O’Bonsawin is the first Indigenous person appointed to sit as a Supreme Court Justice.
