Hi, I’m Jaime. Your elected Member of Parliament for Sydney—Victoria.
I’m also a law graduate from Dalhousie Law, a published writer on Mi’kmaw laws, history and knowledge, and previously the Treaty Education Lead for Nova Scotia.
About Jaime
Jaime Battiste (pronounced hi-may) has held positions as a professor, senior advisors, citizenship coordinator, and Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief before being elected to the House of Commons. He graduated from Dalhousie Law in 2004.
Jaime’s volunteer work over the years involves athletics, youth advocacy, community events, and advocacy for the Mi’kmaq Nation. Jaime is a member of the Aboriginal Sport Circle, a part owner of the Eskasoni Junior B Eagles. He is also currently a coach for the Eskasoni Eagles Might Division team in which his son plays for.
As a young man, Jaime served as the Nova Scotia Youth Council representative to the Assembly of First Nation National Youth Council from 2001-2006. In 2005, National Aboriginal Healing Organization named him as one of the National Aboriginal Role Models in Canada. In 2006 as Chair of the Assembly of First Nations Youth Council, he was one of the founding members of the Mi’kmaw Maliseet Atlantic Youth Council (MMAYC), an organization that represents and advocates for Mi’kmaw and Maliseet youth within the Atlantic. In 2018, Jaime was recognized with the sovereign’s medal for volunteers which is a Canadian decoration to honour volunteers who have made a significant and continual contribution to their community. He is also the proud son of Marie Battiste and James Youngblood Henderson, both who have been awarded with National Aboriginal Achievement Awards.
Today
Jaime, who is a member of the Eskasoni First Nation, made history when he became the first Mi’kmaw M.P. to represent Nova Scotia in the House of Commons on October 21, 2019.
He is currently a member of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans where the range of issues studied parallels the mandate of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), and the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs which reviews, examines and reports on issues affecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and northerners.
Jaime is also the chairman of the Liberal Indigenous Caucus, a forum for Indigenous Members of Parliament to work together to advocate for the well-being of Indigenous Peoples across Canada.