Anishinabek Nation
Session 5
THE PROMISE, HOPE AND VISION OF THE FUTURE
A Panel with Anishinabek Nation Commissioners
SESSION MATERIALS
PRESENTERS BIOGRAPHIES
Patrick Wedaseh Madahbee, Commissioner on Governance
Barbara Nolan, Commissioner on Language
Barbara Nolan
Commissioner on Language
Barbara Nolan, formerly a member of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory now residing in Garden River First Nation, is grateful to have survived the attempts by Canada’s Indian residential schools system to take her Nishnaabe language from her.
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She has spent several decades working with a variety of organizations to revitalize Anishinaabemowin. She enjoys consulting with First Nations and Indigenous communities on effective development of language nests and immersion programs, as well as training Anishinaabemowin speakers in successful methods of immersion instruction.
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Her commitment and dedication to preserving and transferring Anishinaabemowin extend to the binoojii at the Garden River Child Care Centre where she offers part-time Anishinaabemowin immersion.
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Additionally, she carefully designed and produced the Nishnaabemdaa app, an Anishinaabemowin language app available for iOS and Android devices.
Autumn Peltier
Chief Water Commissioner
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Autumn Peltier is a 16-year-old Anishinaabekwe and citizen of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, a member First Nation of the Anishinabek Nation, located on Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario.
She is a water protector, also referred to as a Water Warrior, who has been advocating for the protection of Nibi (water) and Mother Earth since the age of eight.
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She was inspired and mentored by her Great Auntie Josephine Mandamin, former Chief Water Commissioner of the Anishinabek Nation. She is rooted and guided by the Seven Grandfather Teachings in all of her endeavors.
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Autumn has gained national and international recognition and uses that platform to emphasize the connection of the Anishinabek to the land and water and their role to protect the lifeline of Mother Earth, and brings to the forefront the need for clean water for First Nations in Canada. Autumn understands that the work to protect Nibi and Mother Earth must happen immediately in order to secure a future for the next generations to come.
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Autumn was appointed as the Anishinabek Nation Chief Water Commissioner in June 2019 where she represents the Anishinabek Nation on all matters as they relate to water. Autumn is a three-time nominee for the International Children’s Peace Price; a nominee for the 2019 Muhammed Ali Humanitarian Award; recipient of 2017 Canadian Living Me to We Award Youth in Action under 12; recipient of the Sovereign Medal of Exceptional Volunteerism in 2017; recipient of 2017 Ontario Junior Citizens Award; 2018 Ottawa Riverkeeper Award; recipient of the 2019 Water Warrior Award from Ecologos; recognized as one of 30 under 30 by North America for Environmental Education; and was named in the 100 Most Influential People in the World for Climate Change Policy in 2019.
Dr. Jeannette Corbiere Lavall
Citizenship Commissioner
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C.M. Native Women's Rights Activist and Educator
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Jeannette Corbiere Lavell was born on Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, but her life's pursuits have resonated across Canada and beyond.
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She studied business and became an active member of the Indigenous community in Toronto. With the Company of Young Canadians, she worked with First Nations communities across this country. In 1965, she was named Indian Princess of Canada.
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Yet in 1970, because she married a non-Indigenous man, which under the provisions of the Indian Act, meant that she was stripped of her legal Status as an “Indian” and consequently lost many rights. Among them, her right to pass on Status to her children; the right to live on, own or inherit Reserve Land; the right to participate in the community's social and political life; and the right to be buried in her home cemetery with her ancestors. By contrast, an Indigenous man with Status who married a non-Indigenous woman did not face the same losses and would keep his Indian status and pass it on to his wife and children.
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Ms. Corbiere Lavell challenged section 12(1) (b) of the Indian Act under the reasoning that it discriminated by gender. Her landmark case went all the way to the Supreme Court in 1973. Although that specific case did not prevail, it paved the way for momentous change and over a decade later, section 12 of the Indian Act was repealed.
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Since then, Ms. Corbiere Lavell has relentlessly fought “against unfairness and injustice.” She is the first Anishinabek Nation Citizenship Commissioner. She is a founding member of the Ontario Native Women's Association, serving first as Vice-Chairwoman, then as President and currently as an Honourary Lifetime Board Member. She has also been President of the Native Women's Association of Canada, the Nishnawbe Institute – which promotes Indigenous culture – and Anduhyaun Inc., a Toronto residence for Indigenous women. Promoting creativity and the arts, she is a long time board member of Debajehmujig Storytellers.
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Ms. Corbiere Lavell went on to earn her teaching degree and became a school principal. She has been a Cabinet Appointee to the Commission on the Native Justice System, an education and employment counsellor, and an Ontario government consultant to the community. In 1995, she was given the YMCA Women of Distinction Award. In 2009, she was honoured with the Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case for making an outstanding contribution to the goal of gender -equality. In 2012, the Governor General of Canada presented her with the Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee Medal.
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In 2016, York University conferred on her an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies. In 2017, she accepted an Honorary Doctorate of Education from Nipissing University. In June 2019, she was awarded with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Trent University.
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More recently, on September 6, 2018, Governor General Julie Payette invested Jeannette Corbiere Lavell as a member of the Order of Canada.
Patrick Wedaseh Madahbee
Commissioner on Governance
Patrick Wedaseh Madahbee completed his third consecutive term as Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief, having retired from politics in June of 2018. He is now focusing on using his life experiences to share his knowledge with organizations independently, including his recent appointment to the Commissioner on Governance for the Anishinabek Nation.
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He also served one term as Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief in 1980, making him the youngest Grand Council Chief ever at the age of 27.
Mr. Madahbee’s prior roles on a regional level include Lake Huron Regional Grand Chief, Lake Huron representative on the Anishinabek Nation Leadership Council, Ontario Regional Chief, President of the Anishinabek Nation 7th Generation Charity and the Tribal Chair of the United Chiefs and Council of Mnidoo Mnising.
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His dedication to the Anishinabek Nation has included active leadership positions such as chairperson for the Robinson-Huron Treaty Claim Legal Strategy Team and the Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre, respectively. He is a former Vice President of the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto and has held numerous board positions.
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He was the Health portfolio holder for the Chiefs of Ontario, member of the Assembly of First Nations Chiefs Committee of Health, and Co-chair of the joint Non-Insured Health Benefits review.
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Patrick Wedaseh Madahbee is an inspiration and a role model to our youth and is committed to improving both the health of our children and their future! He has been an active member of the Little Native Hockey League (LNHL) for 49 years since its inception; Lake Huron Regional Tournament Organizer; involved in many sports as a participant, coach, and also managed hockey and fastball; and former Recreation Director for the Union of Ontario Indians. He has also served as Chair of the Ontario Indian Sports Council and the Chair of the National Indian Sports Council.
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