Roberta Jamieson

Topics

Presentations

Realizing Canada's Promise
A Mohawk and an ardent activist for an inclusive society which thrives on diversity, Roberta speaks frankly and clearly about the challenges that Canada must face to respond to our changing demographics.

Globalisation: What it Means to Real People
The rewards promised are greater employment and higher standards of living - but the question is, for whom? What can be done by public and private sectors to protect the interests of real people?

Governance, Accountability and Human Rights: The New Political Imperatives
Jamieson explores what the public expects of public servants, and the problems public servants have in meeting the expectations of politicians.

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution: New Ways of Resolving Issues
Jamieson explores the ins and outs of alternative conflict resolution. Is it possible to apply ADR in our schoolyards, families, between people and corporations? ADR has much to offer in creating solid foundations for future relationships while resolving the conflicts of today.

Labour Market Demographics and Potential
Build a blueprint for Canada's future by enhancing the potential of our country's fastest growing labour-market demographic; aboriginal youth. Aboriginal youth realize their potential through education, resulting in helping Canadian companies and organizations address recruitment and retention needs within our own communities and borders.

Summary Profile

"We are focused more than ever on supporting, innovating, and transforming Indigenous education."

Roberta L. Jamieson is a Mohawk woman from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Ontario. In November of 2004, Ms. Jamieson was appointed CEO and President of Indspire, formerly known as National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. Indspire is dedicated to realizing the potential of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit youth through scholarship assistance and other support.

Under her leadership, the Foundation has flourished. In her six years leading Indspire, support for Aboriginal youth has dramatically increased with Indspire doubling its previous total in bursaries and scholarship funding. Indspire has distributed approximately $43 million in support and helped over 11,000 students, with more than half of that support coming since Roberta's 2004 appointment. She has extended the Foundation's career fairs into the North, Quebec and the Maritimes and is Executive Producer of the nationally televised National Aboriginal Achievement Awards.

Ms. Jamieson has enjoyed a distinguished career of "firsts." She was the first First Nations woman to earn a law degree; the first non-parliamentarian to be appointed an ex-officio member of a House of Commons Committee; the first woman to be appointed Ombudsman of Ontario; and in December 2001, she was the first woman to be elected Chief of the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.

Ms. Jamieson was also Commissioner of the Indian Commission of Ontario and for ten years, Ombudsman of Ontario.

She has earned many awards, including the National Aboriginal Achievement Award (Law and Justice 1998), the Indigenous Bar Association's highest award, Indigenous Peoples Council Award (IPC) and 18 honourary degrees. Ms. Jamieson is a Member of the Order of Canada.

She lives with her husband Tom Hill at their home at Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. They have a daughter Jessica and granddaughter Daisy.

Client Testimonial:

"Members of the audience were most appreciative of your message and delighted by its superb delivery. We are honoured to have been able to add you to the list of distinguished speakers in this series."

F. B. Watts Memorial Lecture