Rhys William Jones, M.S.M., Winnipeg, Man.
Meritorious Service Medal (civil division)
An advocate of Aboriginal rights in Canada, Rhys Jones became, in 1986, a founding director of Native Child and Family Services of Metropolitan Toronto and, in 1989, founding co-chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s Manitoba Aboriginal Law Section. A strong advocate of First Nations control over their own land, he has negotiated and helped settle many claims across the country. One of the first lawyers in Canada to devote his practice to Aboriginal law, he also taught Native Law at the University of Manitoba. Through his commitment, Mr. Jones is ensuring that Aboriginal peoples have the right to a contemporary place in Canadian life and that their contribution to the life of our nation is safeguarded.