Justice Cree inspires community
Justice Lysane Cree, right, with Quebec Lieutenant Governor Manon Jeannotte. Courtesy Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
Lysane Cree was appointed as a Superior Court of Quebec judge in September, but a ceremonial sitting last month gave community members a chance to reflect on their pride in a fellow Kanehsata’kehró:non reaching this milestone.
Long before becoming a judge, Cree’s success in the legal field already served as an inspiration for the community, with some members following in her footsteps.
“For me, being a lawyer was only a thing people did in movies or in the big cities. Not in Kanesatake out of all places! But boy was I wrong,” said McGill law school graduate Brandon Bonspiel, who has just a few months left of bar school ahead of being sworn in as a lawyer. “When I started speaking up about my ambitions, I was often told that being a lawyer would not be easy as a Mohawk, but it was not impossible. That’s when I first heard of Lysane Cree.”
It was more than just an encouraging sign for the aspiring legal professional, who has been dreaming of entering the profession since his high school days.
“I am a direct result of Lysane’s impact on our community. She paved the way for myself and many other Kanien’kehá:ka youth wishing to practice law,” he said.
“As for Lysane’s appointment as a judge to the province’s Superior Court, it furthers her legacy as a role model and a leader in our community. Today, young Kanien’kehá:ka know that being a judge is possible because, once again, Lysane Cree did it!”
It’s not only law students who appreciate Cree’s impact on the community, however.
“I’ve always known she was a go-getter, determined and tenacious,” said community member Karonhienhawe Nicholas. “I am so proud of her and proud to say that we have a judge in the community and that there is proof our community is not all bad apples or delinquents like it’s so often portrayed as being. There are so many good things about our community, so many good people, but it’s overshadowed by the bad.”
The event was attended by friends and family from Kanesatake and officials such as Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Manon Jeannotte - the first ever First Nations person to hold that office.
“It was a profound honour to witness the ceremonial sitting of the Honourable Justice Lysanne Cree at the Superior Court of Quebec,” said Jeannotte, who is Mi’kmaq.
“Her appointment marks not only an important moment for Quebec’s justice system, but also a meaningful step on our shared path of reconciliation,” Jeannotte said.
Cree is one of only a handful of judges at the St. Jerome courthouse, which tends to the Terrebonne judicial district, so she is overseeing cases in the region that includes Kanesatake.
“Her voice, integrity, and deep sense of service will undoubtedly enrich the judiciary and inspire future generations,” said Jeannotte.
According to the Department of Justice, Cree was first called to the Bar of Quebec in 2003 following her graduation from the McGill University Law Faculty in 2000. She started her career at Hutchins Legal Inc., where she worked on Indigenous law and worked with First Nations governments across the country for 16 years.
Prior to being appointed as a Superior Court judge, Cree was an administrative judge at Montreal’s Administrative Tribunal for Police Ethics. She declined to participate in this article.
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Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
