It香蕉视频直播檚 very rare to be both Indigenous and a lawyer.
Ethan Wood has done just that.
The young man of Cree heritage recently graduated from the University of Alberta law school.
He香蕉视频直播檚 now a lawyer at Martin Estate and Injury Law in Vernon.
香蕉视频直播淢y great grandparents met in the Indian Residential Schools, so to me it香蕉视频直播檚 personal,香蕉视频直播� said Wood.
香蕉视频直播淢y family lost a lot of records because of the 香蕉视频直播�60s Scoop. Trying to get documentation from the government is a challenge. I want everyone from Indigenous backgrounds to know what they are capable of achieving.香蕉视频直播�
Wood, whose parents were teachers, left home at 14 to play hockey across Canada and the USA. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a straight A undergraduate degree.
香蕉视频直播淚 feel disconnected from my heritage sometimes and I wish I knew more,香蕉视频直播� said Wood. 香蕉视频直播淢y identity as an Indigenous person has always made me proud and I tell everyone. Never be ashamed of who you are, know you have the strength inside you to reach your goals.香蕉视频直播�
Wood has an interest in injury law, especially for sexual assault victims, and business law.
Standing beside him is UBC Okanagan co-op student Abigail Comeau, a young Metis woman who works at Martin Estate and Injury Law as a legal assistant.
The aspiring paralegal also has a message for young Indigenous students: 香蕉视频直播淣ever think you aren香蕉视频直播檛 good enough. My parents have shared their knowledge with me about being Metis. We are from the Kootenays. I still feel sometimes like I shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 represent people because I have so much to learn.香蕉视频直播�
Being disconnected from her culture was part of her experience growing up. In studying for a degree in Canadian politics at UBCO, Comeau is wanting to understand how laws are made. In her co-op placement as a legal assistant she is working in family law and wills and estates.
香蕉视频直播淏eing Indigenous doesn香蕉视频直播檛 limit me to one kind of law. I am interested in all kinds of law and in the way law affects everybody in their families and possessions,香蕉视频直播� said Comeau.
Her interest in law started even earlier when she enrolled at Selkirk College after high school in the two-year law and justice certificate program.
She transferred her credits to UBC to earn a degree.
香蕉视频直播淚 have always been an activist. I want to be able to make a difference, no matter the scale.香蕉视频直播�
Okanagan lawyer and law firm owner Melody Martin is proud of both Wood and Comeau.
香蕉视频直播淣ot many people know that the first Indigenous lawyer in British Columbia qualified in 1962. I was shocked that it香蕉视频直播檚 so recent. The first Indigenous judge in B.C. was that same lawyer, Alfred Scrow, in 1971.香蕉视频直播�
Indigenous people were unable to become lawyers because registration on the provincial voter香蕉视频直播檚 list was a requirement 香蕉视频直播� and they weren香蕉视频直播檛 allowed to vote.
Today Indigenous lawyers make up only 2.7 per cent of B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 lawyers, versus their population of 4.6 per cent. This equates to only 359 lawyers self-identifying as Indigenous in the entire province. The lack of Indigenous lawyers in B.C. is a big concern especially given the over representation of Indigenous people in the justice system, children in foster care and more.
That is slowly changing. In August, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nominated an Indigenous woman lawyer, Michelle O香蕉视频直播橞onsawin, to be a judge on the Supreme Court of Canada, the country香蕉视频直播檚 highest court. Also, a record five Indigenous lawyers were recently elected as Benchers of the Law Society, the governing body for B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 10,000 lawyers. Their successful election recognizes their importance in leading the legal profession.
Martin explains that historically Indigenous people were actually forbidden by law to fundraise for land claims or to hire a lawyer to help them.
香蕉视频直播淭he law turned its back on the people who needed its power to fight injustice,香蕉视频直播� Martin said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 more than time to change that. We need Indigenous legal professionals to bring their perspectives to the law and make it their own.香蕉视频直播�
Statistics are not available for Indigenous paralegals, but Comeau wants to make a difference.
香蕉视频直播淚f young people can see what they can become, the power of the law to improve people香蕉视频直播檚 lives and make a difference, they will be inspired to join.香蕉视频直播�
