b'BEAR MOONsays. When I first started out working at Aboriginal Legal Services, everything was like new; none of the areas of law that we practiced at Aboriginal Legal Services wereMy Mohawk grandfather was quite taught in law school. They teach you all these things like corporate law, real estate law, family law, [but] none of the thingsinstrumental in making sure I didnt forget my that the clients at Aboriginal Legal Services were coming in asking for help with. ancestry and my ancestors. He was always making Murray says one of the major challenges she faced was when her husband passed away in 2004, leaving her alone to raisesure that my older brother and I knew who we were, their two children who were then three and five years old. where we came from, who our community is.I was an only parent practicing law and having to raise two kids on my own with no family, because my family is in Montreal, Murray says. I can remember going to court and the court wanting to sit longer.universityI was the first person to go toFrom 2010 to 2015, Murray worked Id be the only woman of the lawyers inuniversity in my family, Murray says. Andwith the Truth and Reconciliation the room, and Id have to say, I have to gothen my Mohawk grandfather was quiteCommission of Canada (TRC) as execu-get my kids from day care, I cant stay ininstrumental in making sure I didnt forgettive directorsomething she takes great court longer. my ancestry and my ancestors. He waspride in. Professionally, working at the Murray also faced situations where otheralways making sure that my older brotherTRC would be, I would say, my greatest lawyers underestimated her abilitiesand I knew who we were, where we cameaccomplishment, which then of course led during high-profile, media-heavy casesfrom, who our community isyoure anto me being the [Independent] Special that went to appeal courts, including theIndian, he was always saying that to us,Interlocutor [for Missing Children and Supreme Court of Canada. youre an Indian, always making sure thatUnmarked Graves and Burial Sites associ-we would remember that. ated with Indian Residential Schools], I always experienced a lot of, like, Ohshe says.shut up little girl, you dont know whatFrom a professional standpoint, Julian youre talking about kind of stuff, MurrayFalconer, founding partner at FalconersMurrays next role would see her says, and [I] just always [had] to reallyLLP, was also a key role model for Murray.leading work to respond to the TRC speak up and put people in their place. Calls to Action. In 2015, the Ministry She first met the human rights lawyerof the Attorney General established When asked about role models, Murraywhile serving as counsel on the Ipperwashthe Indigenous Justice Division, and points to her grandparents as key figuresInquiry. Ive continued to work with himMurray was appointed to lead it as the growing up. Im Mohawk and Irish, soover the years, and Ive learned so muchfirst Assistant Deputy Attorney General. my Irish grandfather always instilled in mefrom him in civil litigation and how toShe held this role for six years and was the importance of education and going tomanage big case files, Murray says. instrumental in shaping programs and The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship CentresTThhee O Onntario Ftario Federederaation of Ition of Indigenous Fndigenous Friendship Criendship CenentrtresesThe Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centresstrives to improve the quality of lifefor urban Indigenous strstrivives tes to impro improovve the qualite the quality of lify of lifefefor uror urban Iban Indigenous ndigenous strives to improve the quality of lifefor urban Indigenous people by providing innovative research, policy, training people bpeople by pry prooviding innoviding innovvaativtive re researesearch, policch, policyy, tr, training aining people by providing innovative research, policy, training and community development to 29 Friendship Centres 31and c ommunity devy developmenelopment tt to 29 Fo 29 Friendship Criendship Cenentrtres es and communitand community development to 29 Friendship Centres across Ontario.across Onacr oss Ontartarioio. .across Ontario.Join the movementJoin the moJoin the movvemenementtJoin the movementScan the QR code to SScan the QR ccan the QR code tode to o Scan the QR code to acess our careers pageacess our caracess our careers pageeers pageacess our careers pageor visit oforgareersor visit ofofororggarareerseersor visit or visit oforgareersOntario Native Womens Association19'