Phil Fontaine, O.M.
Senior Advisor
Phil Fontaine assists clients with First Nations matters, including aboriginal law, energy, environmental and mining and resources. He advises clients in all our offices, including our office in Calgary, which provides domestic and international clients with high quality and specialized energy law services.
Mr. Fontaine is the former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). He is the longest-serving National Chief in AFN history and the only one to be elected to three terms. He has been instrumental in raising awareness of the importance of human rights to the lives of all Canadians, and First Nations peoples in particular. He is a member of the Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba.
Mr. Fontaine holds honorary doctorates of laws from Brock University, the University of Windsor, Lakehead University, the University of Winnipeg and the Royal Military College of Canada. He was honoured with the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 1996 and is a Member of the Order of Manitoba. On March 18, 2010 in Montréal, he received the Equitas Human Rights Education Award, which recognizes and celebrates exceptional contributions made in the field of human rights education.
As AFN National Chief, Mr. Fontaine led the successful resolution and settlement of the 150-year Indian residential school tragedy, which led to a historic apology by the Canadian government. He also signed the Declaration of Kinship and Cooperation of the Indigenous and First Nations of North America and was the first indigenous leader to address the Organization of American States.
Education
B.A., University of Manitoba, 1981
Rankings and recognitions
- Equitas Human Rights Education Award, 2010
- Order of Manitoba, 2004
- National Aboriginal Achievement Award, 1996
- Honorary Doctorates of Laws (Brock University, University of Windsor, Lakehead University, University of Winnipeg and Royal Military College of Canada)