Jody Wilson-Raybould's appointment as justice minister thrills Eskasoni leader

A First Nations leader in Nova Scotia says aboriginal people are feeling "rejuvenated" by the appointment of Jody Wilson-Raybould as Canada's justice minister.

Eskasoni leader Jaime Battiste says under the previous Conservative government, aboriginal people felt like "terrorists" and had an adversarial relationship with Ottawa. Now, a First Nations lawyer has been made justice minister under the new Liberal government.

"It just was exciting," Battiste says. "And you know what?  I can honestly say, I was alone in my house, but I stood up and clapped."

Wilson-Raybould is a high-profile First Nations leader in British Columbia and a former Crown prosecutor.

Expectations in the aboriginal legal community, Battiste says, were that Wilson-Raybould would be appointed to Aboriginal Affairs or perhaps even the Environment portfolio. They were not prepared for Justice.

"They were just shocked and pleased, and feeling rejuvenated," he says. "And I think with the way a lot of them described it, they felt as First Nations in Canada like African-Americans felt when Barack Obama was elected as president." 

Battiste also says the appointment of Hunter Tootoo as fisheries minister reflects the new Liberal government's confidence in the aboriginal community.  

He says he foresees a good working relationship with Ottawa, and likes what he calls Trudeau's sense of "partnership" with First Nations people.

Battiste says when people caution him, "don't rejoice too soon," he gives them this reply: "There's a lot of bad days for First Nations people in Canada. You have to celebrate the good days. Yesterday was a good day."