Tansi Nîtôtemtik,
Today we celebrate the extraordinary life of Beverley Browne, first Chief Justice of Nunavut, Canada's largest and youngest territory. Justice Browne served in this role for 10 years, with an overall contribution to Nunavut’s justice system that spanned over 2 decades. Sadly, she passed away at the age of 68, last Wednesday, March 24 peacefully, surrounded by her family.
Browne became a judge in the Northwest Territories in 1990 and was appointed Chief Justice of Nunavut in 1999--the same year that Nunavut was founded. She was responsible for building Nunavut's justice system and played a key role in establishing Canada's only single-level trial court. This was an incredible and important feat because Nunavut’s unique system enables justice to be provided to the area’s remote communities. Justice Browne’s continued advocacy also led to her co-founding the Akitsiraq Law School to train Inuit lawyers in Nunavut.
In 2009, Justice Browne made the decision to leave Nunavut for Alberta, where she served on the Court of Queen's Bench and helped create Alberta's Gladue and Restorative Justice committees. [1] She continued to serve not only as a deputy judge in Nunavut but also led meetings aimed at revitalizing the elder’s program in the Nunavut Court of Justice up until her retirement earlier this year. [2]
In 2017, Browne was one of the people who helped come up with the idea of Indigenous Career Day at the Edmonton Law Courts, while working on a committee striving to improve the quality of Gladue Reports. Gladue Reports provide essential information for judges to consider in their sentencing deliberations for Aboriginal offenders.[3]
“Aboriginal issues are near and dear to my heart. I have always believed that if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem,” said Justice Browne, who described the creation of Indigenous Career Day as a concrete response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.[4]
Last November, Justice Browne was honoured at a ceremony in Alberta held by Cree elders, who gave her the spirit name “Woman Standing with the Law.” This was a great honour and testament to her commitment and dedication to justice and access to justice.[5]
In addition to Justice Browne’s many impactful achievements, her personal accomplishments included raising her children and creating music. She played the saxophone and flute. In 1996, Justice Browne founded the Iqaluit Music Society, which was recently awarded the $1-million Arctic Inspiration Prize.
The legacy of Justice Browne is one of enormous respect in the legal community-- a friend, mentor and colleague, she will live on in the hearts of the people she touched--which are many in the communities she fought for. Justice Browne’s impressive career and courage will stand as a reminder that when we fight for what we believe in, anything is possible.
Thank you for reading, Until next time,
Team ReconciliAction YEG
[2] Justice Beverley Browne remembered as ‘gold standard’ for judges | Nunatsiaq News
[3] News & Announcements (albertacourts.ca)
[4] Ibid
[5] Supra Note 2 Ibid
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