When Sally Simpson enrolled in Wilfrid Laurier University as a mature student in 2011, it didn’t occur to her that she would become a “First,” i.e. someone who broke the mould, started a movement, forged a new path. But when she discovered that a list of the myriad of accomplishments of Canadian Indigenous females didn’t exist (and we don’t mean a comprehensive list or even a recent list — we mean just a simple, basic list of any kind), she did what most pioneers did: She created one.
“Achieving equality amongst men and women, as we know, is a long haul,” Singer says in her 2021 YouTube presentation of her thesis entitled Indigenous Female Trailblazers. “And achieving a level playing field amongst women hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park.” Particularly, she goes on to show, when it comes to Indigenous women in Canada.
For example, Emily Stowe became Canada’s first female doctor in 1890. It took another 100 years before Elizabeth Steinhauer (Cree) would achieve the same status. It’s a similar story when you look at the dental profession: Josephine Wells (1893) vs. Mary Jane McCallum (Cree, 1990). Politicians, lawyers, scientists…. The unfortunate pattern remains the same. As Simpson noticed these discrepancies, she discovered something very interesting. “Actually, it’s not what I found, it’s what I didn’t find: No list of the achievements of Indigenous women existed. I was shocked. It didn’t seem right, and it didn’t seem fair.”
Simpson had stumbled upon her thesis subject. “Trailblazing achievements of Indigenous Women deserve to be documented,” she says. “This list is important to all Canadians.”
We couldn’t agree more. The following is an updated list of Simpson’s Indigenous Female Trailblazers. It has grown to include 200+ names, and we hope that by publishing it here, you will be inspired to share more names and stories of Indigenous women who should be recognized as “First.”
Without further ado, we are thrilled to introduce you to the first Canadian Indigenous woman to…
- …travel to England (while seven months pregnant) and successfully petition Queen Victoria to intervene in a land claim dispute near Owen Sound, Ontario. (The Queen granted Catherine legal ownership, however the Canadian government did not honour the Queen’s decision.) Nahnebahwequay (Catherine Sutton), Mississauga, 1860
- …discover the first gold nugget (first person in the world) that led to the Klondike Gold Rush. Shaaw Tláa (Kate Carmack), Tagish-Tlingit 1896
- …become a registered nurse. She was also the first Canadian Indigenous female to serve in the US
military. She had to go to the USA to study nursing because it was illegal in Canada for a status Indigenous person to attend post-secondary. Returning to Canada, she was also the first to gain the right to vote in a Federal election. Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture, Mohawk, 1914 - …hold a teachers license (Nova Scotia). She was also the first licensed teacher to teach in a non-Indigenous school. Dr. Elsie Charles Basque, Mi’kmaq, 1937
- …become a peacekeeper pilot in WWII. She was known to say, “If a woman can sew, she can fly.”
Evelyn Katie Buffalo-Robe, Cree, 1939 - …officially serve in the Canadian Armed Forces. Private Mary Greyeyes, Cree, 1943
- …become an editor of a newspaper (Native Voice). She edited the 1949 story about B.C. granting Indigenous people the right to vote, which was the first Canadian province to amend. Ruth Smith, Sto:lo, 1947
- …publish the first novel (Sanaaq) in the Inuit language. Mitiarjuj Nappaaluk, Inuit, 1951
- …become an elected Band Councillor, at Sagkeeng First Nation, formerly known as Fort Alexander. Upon starting the position, she was a widowed single mother of 9 children. Agnes Fontaine, Ojibwe, 1952
- …become an elected Chief, Curve Lake First Nation. Elsie Knott, Ojibwe, 1954
- …become a professional wood carver. Ellen Neel, Kwakwaka’wakw, 1954
- …construct a Cree syllabic typewriter. Marie Maria Neegan-Gagnon, Cree, 1956
- …graduate from the University of British Columbia. (She was also the first to work for the John Howard Society counselling female prisoners.) Gloria Cranmer-Webster, Kwakwaka’wakw, 1956
- …become a flight attendant. Annie Weetaltuk, Inuit, 1959
- …be on a Canadian stamp (first author & first woman other than the Queen). Pauline Johnson, Mohawk, 1961
- …become an autobiographical commercial artist, creating more than 9,000 drawings throughout her
career. Her career began after she birthed 17 children and buried her husband; she needed to provide for
her family and sold her first drawing for $20. Pitseolak Ashoona, Inuit, 1961 - …be a runway model in New York City. She also posed nude for Salvador Dali. Marji Pratt-Turo (Carla Blakey), Cree-Saulteaux, 1963
- …publish and own an Indigenous newspaper, Tekawennake. Wilma Jamieson, Mohawk, 1963
- …graduate from a university with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (University of Saskatchewan).
She was one of only 60 Indigenous people in all of Canada to hold a university degree. Janet Spence-Fontaine, Cree, 1965 - …challenge the Royal Commission on gender discrimination and won back her Indian status. This ruling is connected to the UN holding Canada in breach of human rights in ‘81 (see Lovelace) and would later become Bill C-31 in ‘85. Mary Two-Axe Earley, Mohawk, 1967
- …be appointed Officer of Order of Canada. Promoted to Companion of Order of Canada in 1982.
Kenojuak Ashevak, Inuit, 1967 - …be the recipient of the Tom Longboat Award for the most outstanding Aboriginal Athlete of the Year. She also led her softball team in the Cdn. Women’s Championship. She was also a member of the Ontario gold-medal winning team at the Canada Games in 1969. Phyllis Bomberry, Mohawk, 1968
- …be named Executive Director of the Selkirk Friendship Centre and was one of the original staff
members of the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre (IMFC) in Winnipeg in 1962. Amy Clemons, Ojibwe, 1968 - …become a registered Public Health Inspector. Rita Swakum (Manuel), Sylix, 1969
- …become Olympians (cross-country skiing) and the first Canadian women to compete in four straight
Olympics. In 2015, The Firth twins were inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Sharon & Shirley Firth, Dene, 1972 - …host and produce CBC’s national program Our Native Land. In 1954, she started working for the CBC as a radio announcer at age 17. Bernelda Wheeler, Assiniboine-Cree Saulteaux, 1972
- …become a Human Rights Commissioner for Alberta. She also founded the Institute for the
Advancement of Aboriginal Women. In 2017, Alberta named a provincial building in Edmonton after her,
now called the Muriel Stanley Venne Provincial Centre, another first. Muriel Stanley Venne, Métis, 1973 - …host Radio-Canada (CBC’s French station) Myra Cree, Mohawk, 1973
- …become the Assistant Director of Training at the Nechi Institute on Alcohol and Drug Education. She is also a leading expert on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Rebecca Martell, Cree, 1974
- …become President of NWAC (Native Women’s Association of Canada) Bertha Clark-Jones, Métis, 1974
- …own and operate a radio station called SPIRIT 91.7 (now CIXL-FM). Suzanne Rochon-Burnett, Métis, 1974
- …become a certified Electron Microscopist. Also, the first to get published in an American science
journal; the first Director of Indian Self Government, Assembly of First Nations (1982) and the first Member of the Board of Directors, Ontario Hydro (1991) Anne Noonan, Ojibwe-Cree, 1974 - …co-found and become President of the Aboriginal Nursing Association of Canada.
Jean (Cuthand) Goodwill Cree 1974 - …own and operate a dance and modelling studio, Michelle Farmer’s Studio of Dance and Modelling,
teaching tap, jazz, ballet and modelling. She opened for business at 14 years old, and danced professionally in New York City, as well as earned her Masters Degree in Dance. She is also a talent agent, specializing in Native talent. Michelle Farmer, Cayuga, 1975 - …become an OPP Officer (Ontario Provincial Police). Katsitsaienne (Jennifer) Martin, Mohawk, 1976
- …become a Director/President of a university. First Nations University of Canada/University of Regina was originally called the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College, which was also the first Native controlled college in North America. Ida Wasacase, Cree, 1976
- …become a commercial pilot (Land, Sea & Block Airspace). Dr. Alis Kennedy, Métis, 1976
- …become a lawyer. Marion Ironquill Meadmore, Ojibwe-Cree, 1977
- …earn a Ph.D. and in 1985, she became the first full university professor (UoA). She also wrote A
Concise History of Canada’s First Nations, the first Canadian Indigenous history book for university level
education that was written by an Indigenous person. Dr. Olive Dickason, Métis, 1977 - …become a prison guard (at the Prison for Women in Kingston).
Jane Chartrand Nokomis, Algonquin, 1978 - …become a Member of Legislative Assembly of a Territory (Liberal MLA for Yukon Territories).
Alice McGuire, Tagish-Tlingit, 1978 - …attain a black belt in martial arts (Tae Kwon Do). Janet Bernard, Mi’kmaq, 1979
- …become a medical doctor. Dr. Elizabeth Steinhauer, Cree, 1980
- …earn a Masters Degree in Education. Verna Kirkness, Cree, 1980
- …earn a Ph.D. in Educational Theory. Dr. Marlene Brant Castellano, Mohawk, 1981
- …succeed in having the United Nations declare Canada in breach of human rights. Indigenous
woman’s Indian status was revoked if she married a non-Indigenous man.
Sandra Lovelace, Maliseet, 1981 - …become a dietitian. Rhea Joseph, Gitksan, 1981
- …earn a Masters Degree in Library Science. Phyllis Lerat, Cowessess, 1981
- …earn a Ph.D. in Biological Psychiatry. Dr. Lillian Dyck, Cree, 1981
- …be appointed non-parliamentarian ex-officio member of a House of Commons Committee. In 1989 the first female to serve the Legislative Assembly as Ombudsman of Ontario. And in 1992 the International Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution awarded her the first Mary Parker Follett Award. Roberta Jamieson, Mohawk, 1982
- …win an Oscar, for the song Up Where We Belong. Her Oscar sits in the Smithsonian, because it is the
first in the world to be won by an Indigenous person. She was also the first person in the world to transmit music over the internet in 1991. She was also the first to breastfeed her baby on television, while appearing on Sesame Street in 1977. Buffy Sainte-Marie, Cree, 1983 - …be ordained by the United Church of Canada.
Christina Baker, Cree, 1983 - …produce a professional play, Flight, with the first all Indigenous cast. She also wrote the famous novel Half Breed in 1973. Maria Campbell, Métis, 1985
- …publish a collection of poetry in French, titled Andatha (Éditions Hyperborée).
Dr. Eleanor Sioui, Wendat, 1985 - …become a Chartered Accountant and the first Director at the Office of the Auditor General of Canada. Charlene Taylor, Heiltsuk, 1986
- …be awarded the Order of Canada for her contribution to the preservation of the Native Cultural
Heritage. Angela Sydney, Tlingit/Tagish, 1986 - …direct an Indigenous documentary film called Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief. Carol Geddes, Tlingit, 1986
- …become an opera singer. While recovering from two brain tumors, she went on to win a Native music
award for the cd Kayas, which was performed in five languages: Cree, English, Italian, French & Latin.
Rhonda Head, Cree, 1987 - …become a Rhodes Scholar to study at Oxford University (considered one of the most prestigious
awards in the academic world), earning her a Masters Degree and Ph.D in International Relations.
Dr. Jennifer Welsh, Métis, 1987 - …become an ordained Anglican Church of Canada Priest.
Reverend Ellen Bruce, Gwich’in, 1987 - …become a Federal Member of Parliament (Liberal). The first appointed to privy council when named
Minister of State for Youth and Training in 1993. And in 2019, awarded the Maclean’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Dene, 1988 - …anchor a national news television broadcast (CBC). She began as the weekend news anchor at 19
yrs old in 1983. Carol Morin (Carol Daniels), Cree-Chipewyan, 1989 - …become a Minister of Justice.
Margaret Commodore, Sto:lo, 1989 - …become a President of a University Student Union, University of Regina.
Danielle Ewenin, Cree, 1989 - …graduate with a Ph.D. in Law from Harvard University. Also BC’s first Representative for Children
and Youth. Dr. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Cree, 1990 - …launch Canada’s first Indigenous commercial fishery.
Wendy Grant-John, Musqueam, 1990 - …become a dentist. She started as a dental assistant in 1973, dental nurse in 1977 and dental therapist
in 1979. And, in 2021, she became the first Indigenous person to be appointed the Chancellor of Brandon
University. Dr. Mary Jane McCallum, Cree, 1990 - …be appointed a Provincial Court Judge.
The Honourable Justice Terry Vyse, Mohawk, 1991 - …be elected Premier of a Canadian Territory (Northwest Territories).
Nellie Cournoyea, Inuit, 1991 - …earn a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering.
Karen Decontie, Algonquin, 1991 - …become a CEO of a steel company.
Hilda Broomfield-Letemplier, Inuit, 1991 - …refuse and win the right to not pledge her oath to the Queen of England. (The oath is a requirement to be called to the bar as a lawyer). Patricia Monture-Angus, Mohawk, 1992
- …win an Olympic medal (Bronze in 3,000 meter).
Angela Chalmers, Sioux, 1992 - …become a Journeyperson in carpentry.
Deborah Nelson, Nuxalk, 1992 - …win the Grand Gold medal at the World Culinary Olympics in Germany. She was the only female chef in a 5-member team. The team was representing Native Haute Cuisine and took home the most medals (11 in total, seven of them gold) out of the entire competition. This was also the first time a Native team participated in the competition, which consisted of 14,000 chefs from around the world.
Bertha Skye, Cree, 1992 - …chair the Council for Yukon Indians (CYI) when they signed the first Modern Day Treaty that included the right to self-government. In 1995, she became the first Commissioner of the Yukon.
Judy Gingell, Tagish Kwan (Southern Tutchone), 1993 - …receive a Rudy Martin Award.
Tantoo Cardinal, Cree, 1993 - …serve as the Speaker of the House (Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories). Also the first
Cabinet Minister in NWT serving in 1987. Jeannie Marie-Jewell, Dene, 1993 - …own and operate a publishing company, Kegedonce Press
Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Chippewas, 1993 - …be appointed a Superior High Court Judge. The Honourable Madam Justice Rose Toodick Boyko,
Tsek’Ehne, 1994 - …be appointed Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs (first person in Canada). In 2021, she became the
first Indigenous person to be installed as the Governor General of Canada, delivering her acceptance speech initially in Inuk, another first. Mary Simon, Inuit, 1994 - …earn a Ph.D. in Social Work, and the first to earn a doctorate from UBC. In 2004, she coined the term
“Millennium Scoop” that proves Indigenous children continue to be overrepresented in the child welfare
system. Dr. Lauri Gilchrist, Cree, 1995 - …win a Juno Award (for the album Artic Rose)
Susan Aglukark, Inuit, 1995 - …serve as Commissioner in NWT and the first to serve as Commissioner in Nunavut in 1999.
Helen Maksagak, Inuit, 1995 - …become a Provincial Member of Parliament (Liberal MHA for Newfoundland).
Yvonne Jones, Métis, 1996 - …become a Dean of a university, First Nations University of Canada.
Esther Sanderson, Cree, 1996 - …own a television production company, Brenco Media Inc.
Brenda Chambers, Tlingit, 1997 - …become a Canadian Senator.
Thelma Chalifoux, Métis, 1997 - …write, produce, direct and act in a dramatic film in Canada called Silent Tears.
Dr. Shirley Cheechoo, Cree, 1997 - …become a general surgeon (also a cancer surgeon).
Dr. Nadine Caron, Ojibwe, 1997 - …become registered midwives (they graduated from the same class).
Carol Mercedes Couchie, Nishnawbe Kwe, 1998
Julie Hill, Mohawk, 1998 - …become a psychiatrist.
Dr. Cornelia Wieman, Ojibwe, 1998 - …own a company that was franchised nationally, The Aboriginal Gifting Company.
Marie Yvonne Delorme, Métis, 1999 - …found and own the first international executive search firm that specializes in Indigenous candidates, Higgins Executive Search. Brenda LaRose, Métis, 1999
- …become President of the first independently accredited Indigenous institution to offer its own
degrees (Blue Quills First Nations College). Leona Makokis, Cree, 2000 - …become the World Champion Hoop Dancer in the adult female and male combined division (first
female in the world). Lisa Odjig, Odawa-Ojibwe, 2000 - …earn a Ph.D. in Comparative Ethnic Native American Studies (University of Berkeley).
Dr. Winona Wheeler, Assiniboine-Cree Saulteaux, 2000 - …co-captain Canada’s first Women’s Water-polo team. They competed at the 2000 Olympics in
Sydney. Waneek Horn-Miller, Mohawk, 2000 - …become a dual Justice of the Peace (Federal & Provincial, first person in Canada).
Her Worship Norma General-Lickers, Mohawk, 2000 - …earn a Ph.D. in Aboriginal Economy.
Dr. Wanda Wuttunee, Cree, 2001 - …win a gold medal at the World Champion Junior Wrestling. Also a gold in 2003 at Pan American Championship Senior Wrestling. Tara Rose Hedican, Ojibwe, 2001
- …be the recipient of the Governor General’s Award for outstanding contributions to equality
resulting in positive change. In 1929, she participated in the Canadian court battle that resulted in women achieving the legal definition of persons. Elisapee Ootoova, Inuit, 2002 - …achieve the rank of full university professor based on traditional knowledge (Trent University).
Shirley Ida Williams, Ojibwe-Odawa, 2003 - …be an Olympian for the sport of modern pentathlon (first for both men & women). A pentathlete
must compete in five disciplines: pistol shooting, epee fencing, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping
and a 3km cross-country run. Monica Pinette, Métis, 2004 - …become a Sous Chef/Pastry Chef at 24 Sussex Drive (residence of the Prime Minister of Canada).
Lea Nicholas-MacKenzie, Maliseet, 2004 - …become an RCMP Superintendent.
Shirley Cuillierrier, Mohawk, 2004 - …represent Canada at the Venice Biennale. Her video installation was titled Fountain.
Rebecca Belmore, Ojibwe, 2005 - …law clerk for the Supreme Court of Canada.
Madeleine Redfern, Inuit, 2005 - …launch the world’s first international legal action on climate change. She claimed Inuit hunting culture may not survive the loss of sea ice and other changes projected over the coming decades. The petition alleged that greenhouse gases have violated Inuit rights as guaranteed by the 1948 American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man. Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Inuit, 2005
- …participate in an international cycling expedition (Canada, Russia, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia & South Africa). Miranda Huron, Algonquin, 2005 - …file the first class action suit against the Federal Government for over 70,000 Residential School
Survivors. Nora Bernard, Mi’kmaq, 2005 - …become an archaeologist.
Brandy George, Chippewas, 2006 - …earn a Ph.D from a German university (Ernst-MoritzArndt Universität).
Dr. Jo-Ann Episkenew, Métis, 2006 - …be nominated for a Gemini for the best dramatic series (Moccasin Flats)
Jennifer Podemski, Saulteaux, 2006
Laura J. Milliken, Ojibwe, 2006 - …be named as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada in the Arts & Communication category, by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN). Lynda Powless, Mohawk, 2006
- …have a hospital wing named after her (Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg). Wapiskisiw Piyésís Iskwéw (Ann Thomas Callahan), Cree, 2006
- …become a climatologist.
Dr. Jeannine-Marie St. Jacques, Métis, 2007 - …become a Provincial Court Judge of Manitoba
Doreen Redhead, Cree, 2007 - …sing O’Canada in her native Cree language to a nationally televised audience. At 13 yrs old, she
sang O’Canada at the Calgary Saddledome, which was aired on the CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, also,
making NHL history. Akina Shirt, Cree, 2007 - …earn a Ph.D. in Law from a Canadian university (Ottawa). Also the first to earn a Governor General
Gold Medal for outstanding academic achievement. Dr. Tracey Lindberg, Cree-Métis, 2007 - …become a Human Rights Commissioner for Canada. She is also one of the holographic narrators at
the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. And in 2018, the first Ontario Senator, sitting in the Red Chamber. Dr. Yvonne Boyer, Métis, 2008 - …conduct the first study of 64 Canadian female Chiefs.
Dr. Cora Voyageur, Athabasca-Chipewyan, 2008 - …hold the most senior position at Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (formerly INAC).
Her title was Senior Assistant Deputy Minister. Gina McDougall-Wilson, Algonquin, 2008 - …become a Conservative Federal Member of Parliament.
Leona Aglukkaq, Inuit, 2008 - …direct a feature-length film (Older than America). She wrote, directed and starred in the thriller and
was awarded the White House Project-Epc-Award for Emerging Artists in 2010. Georgina Lightning, Cree, 2008 - …become a veterinarian dentist (first person in the world).
Dr. Candace Grier-Lowe, Cree, 2009 - …lead negotiations and sign the first Modern Urban Treaty (Tsawwassen Treaty in BC). In 2015, she
was appointed to The Vancouver Board of Trade. This board became Canada’s first major business
organization with more women than men on its board of directors. Kim Baird, Tsawwassen, 2009 - …become a certified Hydro Operator (Island Falls Facility in Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan).
Nicole Stewart, Cree, 2009 - …have a solo exhibit at the National Art Gallery of Canada. In 1978, the Federal Gov’t commissioned
her to paint The Indian in Transition, on display in the National History Museum in Ottawa. At the time, this painting was the largest canvas artwork ever created by an Indigenous person. Daphne Odjig, Ojibwe, 2009 - …become a deaf medical doctor.
Dr. Jessica Dunkley, Métis, 2010 - …win an Olympic medal in the Winter Games (Silver in Curling).
Carolyn Darbyshire, Métis, 2010 - …earn an Indigenous environmental studies bachelor’s degree
Teyotsihstokwáthe Dakota Brant, Mohawk, 2010 - …earn a Ph.D. in Geography.
Dr. Cynthia Anne Jones, Nipissing, 2010 - …co-found and become President of the Aboriginal Professional Association of Canada. At age 22,
she was also the youngest associate accepted into RBC’s Graduate Leadership Program. Gabrielle Scrimshaw, Dene, 2011 - …be featured in US magazine Native Hoop. The magazine showcases exceptional North American
Indigenous talent. She is a figure skater and was 8yrs old. In 2018, she made their front cover.
Teysean Angeline Henry, Gitxsan-Tsimshian, 2011 - …earn a Ph.D. in Criminology.
Dr. Lisa Monchalin, Algonquin-Huron-Métis, 2011 - …be awarded a Performing Arts Award in Nunavut (for Inuit drum dancing).
Veronique Nirlungayuk, Inuit, 2012 - …be appointed a Supreme Court Justice of a Territory.
Supreme Court Justice Shannon Smallwood, Dene, 2012 - …design a stained glass window that is displayed in Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The window commemorates the legacy of Indian Residential Schools. Christi Belcourt, Métis, 2012
- …join the Canadian Olympic Boxing team (first male or female Indigenous boxer), competing in the
London Olympics. Mary Spencer, Ojibwe, 2012 - …set the world record for making a 6.5 metre long baby belt. Baby belts are traditional Indigenous
garments parents use to carry their babies. It took her two years, working four hours per day. The belt consists of 26 beaded flowers each the size of a person’s hand, with a rainbow in the middle. Mary Jane Francois, Dene, 2012 - …be named on the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers List by Canadian Lawyers Magazine.
Dianne Corbiere, Ojibwe, 2012 - …become a Roman Catholic Saint (the first Indigenous person in the world).
Kateri Tekakwitha, Mohawk, 2012 - …become a Canadian Red Cross National Director, Aboriginal & Northern Affairs, Disaster
Management. Melanie Goodchild, Ojibwe, 2013 - …become an RCMP Chief Superintendent. And in 2017, she became the first Commander of the RCMP.
She joined the RCMP in 1987 as a Native Special Constable. Brenda Butterworth-Carr, Tr’ondek Hwech’in, 2013 - …earn a Masters Degree in Infrastructure Protection and International Security. Teresa Nadon,
Algonquin, 2013 - …be awarded the Law Society Medal. Also the first to run for National Chief of the Assembly of First
Nations and the first to be called to the bar in Ontario & Saskatchewan. Delia Opekokew, Cree, 2013 - …win the Polaris Prize for best Canadian album, titled Animism. The album also won a Juno in 2015.
Her unique style originates from being an Inuit Throat Singer. Tanya Tagaq, Inuit, 2014 - …become an Anatomical (Forensic) Pathologist.
Kona Williams, Cree-Mohawk, 2014 - …become a Grand Chief.
Bernice Martial, Dene, 2014 - …win Canada’s National Quilting Award of Excellence. The quilt is titled, Pillars of Strength.
Veronica Puskas, Inuit, 2014 - …become a Vice President, Canadian Commission for UNESCO.
Danika Billie Rose Littlechild, Cree, 2014 - …become a Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon.
Dr. Lisa Phillips, Métis, 2014 - …become MRS. Universe 2015, the first Canadian to hold this title.
Ashley Callingbull (Burnham), Cree, 2015 - …become Ontario’s Assistant Deputy Attorney General for Aboriginal Justice.
Kimberly Murray, Mohawk, 2015 - …be sworn in as Chief with a traditional ceremony that hasn’t been used in 150 years (Oromocto
First Nation). Shelley Sabattis, Maliseet, 2015 - …be called to the bar to be sworn in as a lawyer while wearing her traditional Indigenous ceremonial regalia. Estella Charleson, Hesquiaht, 2015
- …become a licensed Transport Truck Driver.
Susanne Buott, Ojibwe, 2015 - Become the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Jody Wilson-Raybould, Kwakwaka’wakw, 2015 - …be elected to traditional government, Lubicon Lake Nation.
Councillor Cynthia Tomlinson, Cree, 2015 - …play for Team Canada Women’s Hockey. She also played at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South
Korea. Brigette Lacquette, Cree, 2015 - …lead the successful human rights complaint presented at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
accusing the Canadian Government of discriminating against First Nations children for the under-funding of child welfare care on reserves. She also led the team to advocate and introduced Jordan’s Principle, which guarantees Indigenous children receive equal health care compared to all Cdn. children. In 2018, she was awarded the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award for her social justice work for Indigenous children. The provincial & territorial Governments are yet to incorporate Jordan’s Principle. Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Gitksan, 2016 - …become a Native American Advisor to USA Presidential Candidate (Democrat – Bernie Sanders).
Tara Houska, Ojibwe, 2016 - …be named the winner of the Most Influential Women List for 2016 by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS). She developed a physical activity strategy for nine Mi’kmaq communities in Nova Scotia. Krista Devoe, Mi’kmaq, 2016
- …become a Provincial Member of Parliament for BC (NDP MLA).
Melanie Mark, Nisga’a-Gitxsan-Cree-Ojibwe, 2016 - …chair for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.
Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, Chippewas, 2016 - …have their art showcased in an exhibit dedicated to Indigenous art & culture at the Ontario
Legislature (Queen’s Park). The exhibit is called “Gathering Place.”
Tracey Anthony, Ojibwe, 2016
Rebecca Baird, Cree, 2016
Kristy Cameron, Métis, 2016
Kelly Duquette, Métis, 2016 - …be awarded the George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award for her literary work.
Dr. Jeanette Armstrong, Okanagan, 2016 - …become the Director of Justice at Canada’s first independent Indigenous Court for and by Indigenous People. Joyce King, Mohawk, 2016
- …be awarded an International Children’s Nobel Peace Prize. She is a clean-water advocate. In 2018,
she addressed the UN and demanded that they “Warrior Up” and protect our water. She was 13 years old
when delivering the UN address. In 2019, Chatelaine magazine named her Woman of the Year for being a
Clean Water Warrior. Autumn Peltier, Ojibwe, 2017 - …have a public library named after her, formerly the Saskatoon Public Library.
Freda Ahenakew, Cree, 2017 - …place 3rd at the Spelling Bee of Canada (first Indigenous person ever). She was 8 years old at the
time. McKenna Fineblanket, Cree, 2017 - …become an airline captain and get her own commemorative stamp by Canada Post. She started
her career as a flight attendant. Melissa Haney, Inuit, 2017 - …become a heart surgeon.
Dr. Donna May Kimmaliardjuk, Inuit, 2017 - …be named as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada in the Trailblazers & Trendsetters category, by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN). Dr. Catherine Cook, Métis, 2017
- …become a CEO of a power company, Wataynikaneyap Power, which is collectively owned by
22 First Nations. In 2019, she led the negotiations into a provincial contract to tap into the public power grid. This agreement will power 17 First Nation communities in Northern Ontario. And in 1996, she was also the first chief elected at North Caribou Lake First Nation. Margaret Kenequanash, Ojibwe-Cree, 2017 - …become Miss Teen Canada.
Emma Morrison, Cree, 2017 - …file a class-action suit against both provincial & federal governments for forced sterilization on more than 100 Indigenous women, as recently as 2018 in Manitoba & 2017 in Saskatchewan. She has also presented the case to the United Nations Committee Against Torture. And, she was 2018 Chatelaine magazine’s Woman of the Year. Alisa Lombard, Mi’kmaq, 2018
- …become Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief for Alberta.
Marlene Poitras, Cree, 2018 - …become pilots on a Medevac Air Ambulance Team.
Raven Beardy, Cree, 2018
Robyn Shlachetka, Cree, 2018 - …become Regional Chief for the Chiefs of Ontario. In 2021, she became the Chief of the Assembly of
First Nations. Roseanne Archibald, Nipissing, 2018 - …become McMaster University’s Chancellor.
Santee Smith, Mohawk, 2019 - …become Nunavut’s youngest Member of Parliament at age 25.
Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, Inuit, 2019 - …become the first Artist in Residence at The McLuhan House, located in Edmonton.
Lauren Crazybull, Blackfoot-Dene, 2019 - …become a CEO and Founder of an airline, Iskwew Air.
Teara Fraser, Métis, 2019 - …become CRTC Commissioner.
Claire Anderson, Tlingit, 2019 - …become Chair for Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.
Jessica Dumas, Ojibwe, 2019 - …create an app that detects and reports pollution in Chemical Valley (located near Sarnia).
Michelle Murphy, Métis, 2019
Vanessa Gray, Ojibwe, 2019 - …Indigenize ‘Rickrolling’ through beadwork. Rickrolling uses quick response codes on the internet.
The beadwork was an embroidered pattern of a quick response code that when scanned by a cellphone will bring up Rick Astley’s “Never Going to Give You Up” video on YouTube. Charlotte Clarke, Mi’kmaq, 2019 - …win a Climate Change Essay contest that was presented to the UN at a Climate Change conference
in Spain. The contest provided her with the opportunity to collaborate with a global youth group from
28 countries to discuss climate change issues and possible solutions that will also be presented to the
UN. She was 17 years old at the time. Mariah Pechawis, Cree, 2019 - …receive special honour and recognition by The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. She acted in and produced the TV series North of 60, and is the recipient of the Earle Grey Award “for her exceptional body of work in Canadian television.” Tina Keeper, Cree, 2020
- …have one of her designer gowns worn at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Lesley Hampton, Mohawk, 2020 - …use TikTok, Instagram and Twitter to teach her native language of Inuktitut through her videos. Koonoo Han (Becky Han), Inuit, 2020
- …earn a Masters Degree in Cultural Studies (Theatre/Indigenous Studies)
Lisa Cooke Ravensbergen, Ojibwe-Swampy-Cree, 2020 - …be a trio in a flight training program. The team is made up of a flight instructor, a commercial flight
student and a pilot examiner.
Flight instructor: Daniella Petitti, Cree, 2020
Commercial flight student: Rainbow Ford, Salish, 2020
Pilot examiner: Jo-Anne Tabobandung, Mohawk, 2020 - …raise venture capital financing for Virtual Gurus. She is the CEO and Founder. Virtual Gurus is a Tech startup that offers virtual assistants. She was also named both Canada’s Indigenous Entrepreneur of
the Year 2020 and Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2020. Bobbi Racette, Cree-Métis, 2020 - …perform a song (“En Plein Coeur Mai”) at Parliament to officiate the installation of our first Indigenous Governor General, Mary Simon. The song was about the struggles for Indigenous people in Canada. Andrina Turenne, Métis, 2021
- …digitize the Inuktitut language for Facebook. Translations were led by Pirurvik Centre, an Inuit-
owned learning centre based in Iqaluit.
Aluki Kotierk, Inuit, 2022
Jeela Palluq-Cloutier, Inuit, 2022 - …be nominated to the Supreme Court of Canada (first Indigenous person).
Michelle O’Bonsawin, Abenaki, 2022 - …be elected as the Mayor of Timmins (first person of colour to hold this position)
Kristin Murray, Cree-Jamaican, 2022 - …be appointed as Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth.
Sherry Gott, Cree, 2022 - …inspire National Ribbon Skirt Day. The bill has been in the works since she was 10 years old and was
shamed for wearing a ribbon skirt at her school in December 2020. Isabella Kulak, Saulteaux, 2023
