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 Honourable
Judge Mary Ellen Turpel- Lafond is the First Treaty
Indian appointed as a judge in Saskatchewan. She has been
sitting as a Provincial Court Judge in Saskatoon since
1988. Judge Lafond is a member of the Muskeg Lake Cree
Nation.Prior to her appointment, Judge Lafond was a practising lawyer in Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan and a tenured professor of law at Dalhousie University Faculty of Law. Judge Lafond has taught law at a number of schools, including the University of Toronto and the University of Notre Dame. She has represented First Nation individuals and organizations for over 15 years; including the Native Women's Association of Canada; the Assembly of First Nations; the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs; the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, among others. Judge Lafond has several degrees and is one of the most highly educated judges in Saskatchewan. She holds a B.A. (Carleton University), LL.B (Osgoode Hall Law School ), LL.M (Cambridge University) and a doctorate in law from Harvard University.
Judge Lafond was chosen by Time Magazine in 1994 as one of the 100 Global Leaders. In September 1999, Time Magazine again named her as one of the top 20 Canadian Leaders for the next millenium. Two articles that appeared in The Indigenous Times: Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond Appointed Provincial Court Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond: A Story of Determination and Reward One article that appeared in the Saskatchewan Sage: Judge destroys family violence myths Links: (click on X in top right corner of outside link to return to photo gallery) Women Taking On Larger Role In Politics - Saskatchewan Indian - Summer 1998 - v28 n02 p13Judge's nudge badly needed The Star Phoenix News, Saskatoon, SK , Canada Opinion: January 13, 1999 |
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Judge
Lafond is married to George E. Lafond, the Vice-Chief of
the Saskatoon Tribal Coucil. They have a daughter,
Alphonsine, and a large extended family in Saskatchewan,
Manitoba and Ontario. Judge Lafond has worked for many
years to build bridges between Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal peoples, based on the teaching of the
Elders of kindness and respect. While this work has
presented many challenges, especially over the past few
years on the bench, Judge Lafond believes that the future
will be built through First Nations being involved in all
levels of Canadian society as equals and with recognition
of the distinct heritage and rights of all peoples.