CALGARY—Dianne Corbiere, a lawyer from M’Chigeeng First Nation, was among 12 people who received a national 2019 Indspire Award on February 22. Representing the highest honour the Indigenous community bestows upon its own achievers, the Indspire Awards were created in 1993 with the United Nation’s International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
The awards recognize Indigenous professionals and youth who demonstrate outstanding career achievement. They promote self-esteem and pride for Indigenous communities and provide outstanding role models for Indigenous youth.
A biography written and released at the awards ceremony about Ms. Corbiere reads, “from humble beginnings growing up on M’Chigeeng First Nation, Dianne Corbiere has now received national recognition for her leadership and achievements in Indigenous law and was the first Indigenous person named one of Canada’s Most Influential by Canadian Lawyer Magazine. In 2016, she was elected to serve as a bencher for the Law Society of Ontario (LSO).”
“She has dedicated her time at the LSO to many working groups and review panels, such as the Working Group formed by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada to decide how best to respond to the Calls to Action in the Truth and Reconciliation report. In 2016, she worked with a legal team on the first case in Ontario to apply Anishinaabe laws and legal orders in treaty interpretation of the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850. She is also the former president of the Indigenous Bar Association and former chair of the National Secretariat Against Hate and Racism in Canada.”
The Recorder was unable to reach Ms. Corbiere for contact prior to this week’s press deadline. The Anishinabek News reported on October 22, 2018 that Ms. Corbiere was being recognized for an Indspire award via the Law and Justice Category. Ms. Corbiere is a managing partner of Nahwegahbow, Corbiere Genoodmagejig/Barristers and Solicitors, a law firm located in Chippewas of Rama First Nation. She lives in a nearby rural community in Simcoe County.
Ms. Corbiere, who graduated from the law school at the University of Toronto in 1995, told Anishinabek News, “our firm represents First Nations exclusively. Having an opportunity to work for them is pretty important to me.”
“From my perspective, this is the award for Indigenous people in Canada,” she said of the Indspire award.
In her law firm, Ms. Corbiere focuses on treaty and aboriginal rights for First Nations. She has represented numerous First Nations in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. In addition, she has also worked for tribal council and First Nation organizations; and has assisted with issues about land claims, natural resource management, gaming, sovereignty and self-government as well as corporate and commercial law.
In 2012, Ms. Corbiere was the first Indigenous person named to Canadian Lawyer Magazine’s Top 25 influential lawyers list.
