Beverley Jacobs

Beverley K. Jacobs, LL.B., LL.M., is an Aboriginal Canadian leader. She is currently serving her second term as the President of the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC).

Ms. Jacobs was born at Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation Indian reserve near Brantford, Ontario, Canada. She is a Mohawk citizen of Haudenosaunee Iroquois Confederacy, Bear Clan. Her traditional name is "Gowehgyuseh" which means “She is visiting.”

Ms. Jacobs has a Bachelor of Laws Degree, LL.B., from the University of Windsor and a Masters Degree in Law, LL.M.. from the University of Saskatchewan.

Ms. Jacobs is a lawyer by trade, and has taught as a professor at the University of Windsor, University of Toronto, University of Saskatchewan and Ryerson University.

Ms. Jacobs began her career as an entrepreneur and consultant with her own consulting firm. She is also a sole practitioner with a law office at Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation.

Ms. Jacobs was the lead researcher and consultant for Amnesty International's (AI) groundbreaking Stolen Sisters Report. This document from 2004 highlights racialized and sexualized violence against Aboriginal women in Canada. Her work with AI led to Ms. Jacobs' decision to run for President of NWAC. Since her election as President in 2004, she has successfully secured funding for Sisters In Spirit, a research, education and policy initiative aimed at raising public awareness about Canada’s missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

Ms. Jacobs was re-elected for a second term as President of NWAC in 2006.

Ms. Jacobs was appointed in 2006 as the Chair of the National Aboriginal Council on Species at Risk (NACOSAR). This position has provided her with the opportunity to advise the Minister of Environment on the administration of the act and to provide advice and recommendations to Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council. Ms. Jacobs was re-appointed for a second term as NACOSAR Chair in 2008.

Beverley is the mother of Ashley and Lukas and a grandmother of Nicholas and Tessa.

Video Links

* [http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/rqpi/apo/bjnwa-eng.asp Beverley Jacobs at the apology to former students of residential schools]

External links

* [http://www.nwac-hq.org/ Native Women's Association of Canada website]
* [http://www.nwac-hq.org/en/documents/BeverleyJacobsbio.pdf Biography of Beverley Jacobs]
* [http://www.thestar.com/article/468693 The Toronto Star: The serene champion of native women's rights]