Inuk lawyer introduces another Inuk lawyer as she's called to the bar

Pointing to an increase in Inuit members of the Law Society of Nunavut, there is one more Inuk lawyer in the territory and she was introduced to the court by an Inuk lawyer. 

Nunavut MLA (and former premier) Paul Okalik sponsored Violet Ford in a ceremony held at the Nunavut courthouse. 

"I think it's very important to have more Inuit lawyers in the court system to address many of the issues that Inuit face in the judicial system," said Ford. 

"We have our own perspective on how those issues are to be addressed and how to bring it into the court system where those type of disputes are settled."

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Ford became Canada's first female Inuk lawyer when she was first called to the bar more than two decades ago.

From Makkovik, Labrador, she has been called to the bar in the Northwest Territories, Newfoundland and Upper Canada, and says she is now hoping to move to Iqaluit.

In her career, she has served as vice president of the Inuit Circumpolar Council and assisted in drafting the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. 

Currently living in Ottawa, she works as in-house legal counsel for the Assembly of First Nations.

Okalik, Nunavut's first Inuk lawyer, called it "a great day for Nunavut", saying he hoped that the event would inspire more Inuit to pursue careers in the legal field.

Ford plans to start a private practice serving Indigenous clients, when she moves north this summer.

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