Canada's first lawyer from Mi'kmaq Nation receives honorary doctorate

Known as the first MIGMA lawyer in in Canada, I'm from the community of Member 2, which is located in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Following an illustrious career of fighting with and for Indigenous communities, Burn Christmas was awarded an honorary doctorate this month by the Toronto Metropolitan University. Oh man, it was an amazing experience. You know, you, I really didn't understand the magnitude of it all until I had finished my commencement speech. And then I, I sat down and then all of a sudden it kind of hit me. It was clapping and, you know, lots of smiles. And I, I get the, the, the official document and voila, now I'm a doctor. I've worked a lot with the indigenous community and to to be recognized by such an institution as the Metropolitan University, it means a lot because the outside world, so to speak, is, is and has watched what I've done and accomplished. And, and so I think that what makes it really special. Christmas has dedicated his life to help First Nations secure beneficial arrangements with a variety of corporations. He has spoken nationally and internationally on the importance of developing culturally sensitive business practices that respect traditional Indigenous ways. Yeah, over the years, the reconciliation has has changed. There was a time, I remember in my early days being downtown Bay Street lawyer, trying to make make my way where First Nations were seen as, yeah, they got constitutional rights, but it doesn't really mean anything. But you know, as the years go by, you start to see the change as a result of court cases, but then you also see the economic clout that First Nations are beginning to have. He plans to continue to fight for Indigenous communities and help the country move forward with reconciliation in Toronto. Audra Brown City News.