Anishinaabekwe to receive honourary degree from York University

By Sam Laskaris

BRANTFORD – When she first heard that York University Interim President Lisa Philipps was keen to have a meeting with her, Marian Jacko didn’t quite know what to think.

“I asked my executive coordinator if she had any idea what the request was about and she didn’t,” Jacko said, adding a meeting was scheduled believing it would possibly be a call asking if she could come speak to a class, something she frequently does at various schools.

Jacko, a member of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, got much more than she bargained for when she did speak to Philipps.

That’s because she was told she would be receiving an honourary doctor of laws degree from the Toronto-based university during its June 19 convocation ceremonies.

Jacko is one of eight individuals being recognized by York with honourary degrees at its Spring convocation ceremonies, which run June 12 to June 19.

“When she let me know, I was actually beyond shocked and I was almost speechless,” Jacko said of the conversation she had with York head. “It just totally blew me away. It was just so unbelievable and incredible and humbling and amazing all at the same time.”

Jacko, who lives in Brantford, is certainly a deserving recipient. She is a highly respected leader across the country in Indigenous justice, child advocacy, and public service.

Jacko was called to the Ontario Bar in 1998 and spent about two decades working with the Office of the Children’s Lawyer.

A decade ago, in 2016, she was the first Indigenous woman appointed as the Children’s Lawyer for Ontario.

Jacko currently works as an assistant deputy attorney general of Ontario’s Indigenous Justice Division.

Jacko is also well known in the hockey community. She was first elected to serve as the president of the Little Native Hockey League, often simply called the Little NHL, in 2018. She continues to oversee the Little NHL, which has become the largest youth Indigenous hockey tournament in Ontario.

This year’s tourney, which was primarily in Markham and rinks in neighbouring communities, featured a record 271 clubs.

Jacko is also the first Indigenous person to serve on Hockey Canada’s board of directors. She’s in her second term with the sport’s national governing body.

“Community service and giving back to community is really important to me,” Jacko said. “So, that’s why I serve on different boards.”

Besides her hockey commitments, Jacko is in her ninth and final year of serving on the Anishinawbe Health Toronto board of directors. A bylaw stipulates individuals can serve a maximum of three terms (each one three years in length) with the organization.

Jacko is no stranger to York University. She graduated from York in 2005 with a Master of Laws degree. She completed requirements for her Master’s while working and also pregnant.

Jacko is now looking forward to returning to the school to receive her honourary degree.

“They said I have 10 minutes to speak to the graduating class,” she said. “So, I will be doing that. It should be a good day.”

Jacko will be recognized during York’s Osgoode Hall Law School convocation.

Jacko has received her share of accolades over the years.

One of her greatest accomplishments was in 2020 when she received an Indspire Award. The annual awards recognize outstanding Indigenous achievers across Canada in various categories.

“They’re all very meaningful,” Jacko said of her awards. “I don’t know if I can compare them all to be quite honest. I think they’re all just equally amazing.”