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 superb communicator; with more than 20 years of experience in conflict resolution involving government at all levels. She is a highly skilled, impassioned and engaging mediator and speaker. Roberta is a visionary, passionately devoted to advancing Canada's democratic leadership in the world. She is also a vocal advocate for the preservation and enhancement of human rights, indigenous rights in particular, as a part of realizing Canada's potential.

Roberta is a Mohawk woman from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Ontario, where she still resides. In November of 2004, she was appointed CEO and President of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. In February 2012, the Foundation changed its name to Indspire and incorporated its new tag line, "Indigenous Education, Canada's future."

Under Roberta's leadership, Indspire is flourishing. Bursary and scholarship funding has dramatically increased to over $49 million to 14,000 students, more than doubling since Roberta's 2004 appointment.

She has extended Indspire's career conferences to all regions of Canada. Roberta is leading the development of the Indspire Institute, an online laboratory of learning focused on increasing high school completion rates and K-12 success.

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

She has earned numerous awards, including the National Aboriginal Achievement Award (Law and Justice 1998), the Indigenous Bar Association's highest award, Indigenous Peoples Council Award (IPC) and 21 honorary degrees. She has been named three times to the Women's Executive Network's Top 100 list. She is a Member of the Order of Canada.

Client Testimonials:

"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

"You spoke to movingly at the Dinner and in case you didn't notice, the silence and the attention in the room was palpable. Thank you for your inspiring words and the passion you bring with each and every word you say."

Chair, Pier 21 Foundation