Pamela Palmater

Early life

Palmater's family is from Eel River, New Brunswick. She is a member of the Eel River Bar First Nation.{{cite web|url=https://www.torontomu.ca/politics/people/faculty/palmater-pamela/#:~:text=Pamela%20Palmater%20is%20a%20Mi,Administration%20at%20Toronto%20Metropolitan%20University. |title=Pamela Palmater

Education

She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Thomas University in 1994 with a double major in Native Studies and History. She then graduated from the University of New Brunswick in 1997 with a Bachelor of Laws. In 1999, she graduated from Dalhousie University with a Master in Laws in Aboriginal Law. In 2009, Palmater obtained a Doctorate in Aboriginal Law from Dalhousie University Law School with her thesis entitled, "Beyond Blood: Rethinking Aboriginal Identity and Belonging".

Career

Palmater is active in the Assembly of First Nations and is head of the Centre for Indigenous Governance at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she is a professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration. She worked for the federal government for over ten years, and was a director at Indian and Northern Affairs managing portfolios responsible for First Nations treaties, land claims and self-government.

In 2012, Palmater was the runner up in the Assembly of First Nations leadership elections for national chief. Her social advocacy highlighting Indigenous issues and missing and murdered Indigenous women bestowed many awards throughout her career.

In 2021, Palmater began contributing to the online news website The Breach.

Statements

In an interview for Co-op Media New Brunswick, Palmater stated "The Harper government has no respect for the law, the constitution, the charter, treaties or international law with respect to the duty and legal obligation to solve and accommodate the rights of indigenous peoples, and that’s clear."

A National Post article described Palmater as "the most prominent spokesperson for the 2013 Idle No More movement." The article notes "Palmater also figured heavily in the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and its controversial assertion that Canada is just as bent on genocide now as during the residential school era." It quotes from the 2019 report, where Palmater says “Today’s racist government laws, policies and actions have proven to be just as deadly for Indigenous peoples as the genocidal acts of the past.”

Discussing the Nova Scotia mass murder perpetrator, Palmater wrote there is "a real bias problem in mainstream media when it comes to white men who commit horrible crimes. It’s called “Exceptional White Male Syndrome.”

Awards

2012 YWCA Toronto Woman of Distinction Award in Social Justice.

2012 Women's Courage Award in Social Justice.

2012 Bertha Wilson Honour Society (Inaugural Inductee).

2013 Top 25 Most Influential Lawyer: Top 5 in Human Rights.

2014 Canada's Top Visionary Women Leaders: Top 23.

2014 Building a Better World Designation: Nation-Builder.

2015 UNB Alumni Award of Distinction.

2016 Ryerson's Aboriginal Role Model.

2016 21 Inspirational First Nation, Mets, Inuit Women Leaders.

2016 J.S. Woodsworth Woman of Excellence Award in Human Rights and Equality.

2016 Margaret Mead Award in Social Justice.

2017 Doctor of Laws honoris causa.

2017 Award for Excellence in Human Rights.

Publications

Indigenous nationhood: empowering grassroots citizens (Fernwood, 2015)

Stretched Beyond Human Limits: Death by Poverty in First Nations (for publication in 2012).

Beyond Blood: Rethinking Indigenous Identity and Belonging. (Saskatoon: Purich Publishing, 2011)

Our Children, Our Future, Our Vision: First Nation Jurisdiction over First Nation Education for the Chiefs of Ontario

In My Brother's Footsteps: Is R. v. Powley the Path to Recognized Aboriginal Identity for Non-Status Indians? in J. Magnet, D. Dorey, eds., Aboriginal Rights Litigation (Markham: LexisNexis, 2003) 149. Stretched Beyond Human Limits: Death by Poverty in First Nations (2012) 65/66 Canadian Review of Social Policy.

References

References

1. [http://www.cbc.ca/doczone/8thfire/2011/12/pamela-palmater.html Canadian Broadcasting System, 8th Fire]
2. Wolfson, Carmelle. (March 9, 2012). "Pamela Palmater named YWCA Woman of Distinction".
3. [http://www.afn.ca/index.php/en/pam-palmater-biography Assembly of First Nations, Pam Palmater Biography]
4. Ryerson University. [http://www.ryerson.ca/politics/facultyandstaff/bio_PamelaPalmater.htm Biography: Pamela Palmater] {{webarchive. link. (2013-01-28 . Retrieved on: 2013-01-26.)
5. "The time is ripe for First Nations land reform in Canada | Full Comment | National Post".
6. AFN runner-up says gender a factor in defeat against Atleo. The Globe and Mail, 18 Jul 2012. [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/afn-runner-up-says-gender-a-factor-in-defeat-against-atleo/article4426278/]
7. "Pamela Palmater - Politics & Public Administration - Ryerson University".
8. "The Breach journalism for transformation". Breach Media Canada.
9. Hajjar, Crystel. (2012-09-24). "The indictments of Pam Palmater".
10. Hopper, Tristin. (August 11, 2021). "Historians oppose statement saying Canada is guilty of genocide".
11. Palmater, Pamela. (April 21, 2020). "Nova Scotia mass shooting lays bare media's white male bias".
12. "Meet the 2012 Recipients. YWCA".
13. "About".
14. "The Top 25 Most Influential {{!}} Canadian Lawyer Mag".
15. "A Bold Vision {{!}} Women's Leadership Conference".
16. "Pamela Palmater Receives UNB Award - Politics & Public Administration - Ryerson University".
17. "160217-Palmater-Role Model - Politics & Public Administration - Ryerson University".
18. "160515-Palmater-ETFO-InspirationalFNWoman - Politics & Public Administration - Ryerson University".
19. "160529-Palmater-WoodsworthAward - Politics & Public Administration - Ryerson University".
20. "161004-Palmater-MargaretMeadAward - Politics & Public Administration - Ryerson University".
21. "171102-Palmater-AHRC-Award - Politics & Public Administration - Ryerson University".