Please note that the titles and descriptions that accompany each Trailblazers photograph are dated to the launch of the exhibit, March 2006, and will not be updated.
"I love to dance. It's the closest thing to flying. To move, leap and be at one with your body and the music. I don't know where you can find that anywhere else. And I don't think I'd be the litigator I am today if not for the 20 years of my life spent on the stage."
Jean Teillet '94
Partner, Pape Salter Teillet; and Aboriginal rights activist
By age four, Jean Teillet already loved to dance and talk - about politics, law and the Métis. Growing up in St. Boniface, Manitoba, this dynamic great-grandniece of famous Métis leader, Louis Riel, recalls large family gatherings where talk of politics filled the room. Indeed everyone in her life was in politics or public service, and she had a sense that she too would follow that path. But her passion for social justice would have to wait. First, she pursued a career in theatre and modern dance. For the next 20 years Jean worked in the theatre - dancing, acting, teaching and choreographing. Long hours of rehearsal and performance honed her concentration and commitment - skills she uses today as a litigator in court. Since entering law school at age 38, Jean has made an indelible contribution to both her community and the country, including winning a landmark victory in the Supreme Court of Canada in 2003 for Métis rights. Happily, it’s given her the same euphoria and joy she experienced dancing.
See more of the Trailblazers Exhibit
