Deborah Chatsis, C.M.
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Deborah Chatsis is an esteemed advocate for indigeneity and diversity in Canada’s foreign service. A member of the Ahtahkakoop First Nation, she is the first woman from a First Nation to serve as a Canadian head of mission abroad; she served as ambassador to Vietnam, Guatemala and Belize. A gifted diplomat and lawyer, she protected marginalized communities and championed the rights of Indigenous peoples worldwide. As a senior advisor to the Privy Council Office and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, she helped advance the conversation around reconciliation in Canada.