Jeannette Corbiere Lavell
Jeannette Corbiere Lavell | |
---|---|
Born | Jeannette Vivian Corbiere June 21, 1942 Wikwemikong, Ontario, Canada |
Occupation | Activist |
Known for | Canada (AG) v Lavell President of Native Women's Association of Canada Founder of the Ontario Native Women's Association of Canada |
Jeannette Corbiere Lavell CM (born June 21, 1942) is a Canadian and Anishinaabe community worker who focused on women's and children's rights. In 2018, she was honoured as a member of the Order of Canada.[1]
Biography
She was born Jeannette Vivian Corbiere in
Corbiere Lavell married David Lavell in 1970, a non-Indigenous man, and subsequently was no longer deemed an Indian according to the Indian Act.[4] She challenged the Act in 1971; though her challenge failed, she inspired a later challenge, the success of which "permitted reinstatement of the First Nations women and children who had lost their status".[5][2] She later served as president of the Native Women's Association of Canada and founded the Ontario Native Women's Association of Canada.[4] Corbiere Lavell served as a cabinet appointee or the Commission on the Native Justice System, president or the Nishnawbe Institute, and president of Anduhyaun Inc. After she earned a teaching degree from the University of Western Ontario, she worked as a teacher and school principal.[3] She co-edited "Until Our Hearts Are On the Ground: Aboriginal Mothering, Oppression, Resistance and Rebirth".[6]
Her daughter, Dawn Harvard, was the youngest ever president of the Ontario Native Women's Association.[7] That organization established an award in honour of Corbiere Lavell in 1987.[3]
In September 2009, she became the president of the organization NWAC (Native Women's Association of Canada) for a three-years period.
In 2016, Corbiere Lavell was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws at York University for her work as a Native women's rights activist and educator.[8]
In April 2018 The Feminist Alliance for International Action recognized Jeannette as a member of the Indigenous Famous Six. Other members are Yvonne Bedard, Senator Sandra Lovelace Nicholas, Sharon McIvor, Lynn Gehl, and Senator Lillian Dyck.[9]
Awards
- Persons Award (2009)[3]
- Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)[10]
- Member of the Order of Canada (2017)[11]
- Indspire Award, Lifetime Achievement (2020)[12]
See also
References
- ^ Erskine, Michael (January 10, 2018). "Jeanette Corbiere Lavell named a Member of the Order of Canada". The Manitoulin Expositer. Little Current, Ontario, Canada. Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
- ^ a b "Jeannette Vivian Corbiere Lavell". Library and Archives Canada. 2000. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Erskine, Michael (April 9, 2014). "Jeanette Corbiere Lavell, a lifelong advocate for women". Manitoulin Expositor. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4426-0566-4.
- ^ Kurszewski, Denise M. "Herstory Month in Canada - celebrating women's achievements". National Union of Public and General Employees. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
- ^ "Jeannette Corbiere Lavell". Debajehmujig Storytellers. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
- ^ "Ontario Native Womens Association - Board of Directors". www.onwa.ca. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
- ^ "Thirteen outstanding individuals will be recognized with honorary degrees at spring convocation | Alumni & Friends". advancement.yorku.ca. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
- ^ "'Famous Six' to be celebrated for work on '6(1)a All the Way'".
- ^ The Diamond Jubilee Medal
- ^ Appointments to the Order of Canada
- ^ "Jeannette Corbiere Lavell". Indspire. January 29, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.