BC First Nations are celebrating new aboriginal members of parliament selected to Justin Trudeau’s Cabinet.
Former BC Assembly of First Nations’ Regional Chief Jody Wilson-Raybould was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
“I think she’s well suited for her position as a member of parliament and we look forward to working with her.” said Carrier Sekani Tribal Chief Terry Teegee. “There are many first nations’ issues that we have to deal with, with the justice ministry.”
Teegee hopes Raybould-Wilson will keep the Prime Minister to his word.
“The issue of the missing and murdered women, the highway of tears issue, is not going to go away until it is fully addressed by the provincial and federal governments” said Teegee. “I think having an indigenous woman appointed as the Justice Minister is a good thing.”
He also recognized the appointment of Nunavut’s Hunter Tootoo as Minister of Fisheries and says he looks forward to more aboriginal representation in government.