Official announcements from the law society or judicial system

DNA Testing Shows Former Judge Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond Likely Has Indigenous DNA

Jul 25, 2024, 04:54 PM

DNA testing has shown that Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, a former judge whose Cree heritage has been disputed, most likely has Indigenous DNA. This finding comes after a 2022 CBC News investigation questioned her claims of Cree heritage, particularly the assertion that her father was Cree. The law society has acknowledged the DNA report, which supports her Indigenous identity. Despite this evidence, there are opinions that her identity should never have been decided in the court of public opinion.