Conne River’s Judy White appointed chair of Human Rights Commission

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — For the first time in the history of the province’s Human Rights Commission, an indigenous woman will fill the role of chairperson.

Judy White of Conne River, a Mi’kmaq grandmother and member of the Flat Bay Band, is currently the assistant deputy minister of Indigenous and Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat with the provincial government. 

White completed her bachelor of laws degree from Dalhousie Law School with particular emphasis upon aboriginal law. She also completed the Intensive Program of Lands, Resources and First Nations Government at Osgoode Hall Law School and recently completed the Leading Peoples and Investing in Sustaining Communities, an Indigenous certificate program at Harvard Business School. White has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Assembly of First Nations and a partner, specializing in aboriginal law, with the law firm of McDonald White. 

She has served as the Self Government Advisor for Miawpukek First Nation and as a policy and planning specialist for Women’s Policy Office on aboriginal women’s issues. 

White’s board and governance experience includes serving many agencies and in various capacities including the National Centre for First Nations Governance, the First Nations Statistical Institute, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, and Board of Regents of Memorial University. 

“White brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role and I’m confident she will contribute significantly to the Human Rights Commission,” Andrew Parsons, minister of justice and public safety stated in a news release.