Congratulations to Dr. John Borrows who was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada - the Order's second highest office - on New Year's day.

Dr. Borrows, a member of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation who grew up on a farm near Neyaashiinigmiing (Cape Croker), received the honour "For his scholarly work on Indigenous rights and legal traditions, which have had a significant impact across Canada and abroad."

Dr. Borrows is a full professor of law at the University of Victoria Faculty of Law, where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Law. He received his Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from the University of Toronto in politics and history, his Doctor of Law and Master of Laws at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, and his Doctor of Philosophy at Osgoode Hall Law School.

In a quote in a CBC article on his appointment to the Order of Canada, Dr. Borrows says "People are recognizing more strongly that Indigenous lives are part of our landscape. That bodes well because we have lots of work to do to recognize treaties, Aboriginal title, Aboriginal rights, as well as the internal laws of Indigenous Peoples to deal with some of the challenges we're facing within our communities."

For those who would like to understand more about Dr. Borrows perspective as an Anishinaabe/Ojibway scholar, you might want to start with a taste here or this video interview with his daughter, who was also studying law, filmed in 2013 in a location you will recognize.

 The Order of Canada is one of our country’s highest civilian honours. Its Companions, Officers and Members take to heart the motto of the Order: DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM ("They desire a better country").

Created in 1967, the Order of Canada recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. More than 7,000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order. Those who bear the Order’s iconic snowflake insignia have changed our nation’s measure of success and, through the sum of their accomplishments, have helped us build a better Canada.