RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE BILLIE FORTIER
Billie Fortier
Lawyer, mlt aikins llp
Firstly introduce yourself and tell us where your home place is. Describe your jobs in just under four sentences. Please also provide your title and profession.
I practice in Calgary, but my family is from the Fort McKay First Nation. I am a member of the Fort McKay Metis Nation.
I represent First Nations and Métis communities and businesses on a variety of matters, including corporate structuring of Indigenous-owned businesses, financial administration and governance. I also advise clients across a number of industries on general commercial matters and in connection with M&A and corporate reorganizations.
Billie Fortier MLT AIKINS Profile
What sparked your interest to work in this industry?
I came to the decision to pursue law in a roundabout way. I graduated with my undergrad degree with a major in International Relations. I naively thought I would get my dream job right out of university, but that did not happen. I ended up temping at various jobs and ultimately ended up at a regulatory consulting company. I worked my way up in that company to the position of a regulatory consultant. I found myself reading environmental and oil and gas legislation all day and thought, this is super interesting, I should go to school to pursue this.
What do you enjoy most about your career?
I always enjoy being able to work in the communities. Some of the most rewarding experiences of my career has been sitting with elders and interviewing them about their traditional land use knowledge. I could sit and listen to their stories for hours. They have such a beautiful wealth of knowledge of their culture and how to use the land, including knowledge about the migratory routes of animals, where to find certain berries and roots, the medicinal properties of certain plants, how to tan a hide or prepare wild meat, etc. And of course, it is very important to them to be able to pass on this traditional knowledge to the next generation.
What does success look like to you for Indigenous youth?
Success looks different for all people. Success for one young Indigenous person may mean being able to pursue a higher education and become a professional, while success for another may mean being able to learn traditional knowledge and skills from their elders and live off the land. I think what’s most important is that young Indigenous people have the opportunity and support to pursue their goals, whatever they may be.
What has been the most outstanding moment in your career thus far?
Being called to the Alberta bar was a surreal moment. It was the result of allot of hard work and so much support. Alberta is the only province in Canada that still holds individual bar call ceremonies, so it is a very special moment for the new lawyer and their family. My grandmother was in the courtroom that day. When she was a young girl an Indigenous person could not even hire a lawyer, not to mention become one, and therefore for her granddaughter to become a lawyer was an important moment.
What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?
I recently read the book, Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, by Sebastian Junger. It provides a fantastic analysis on the importance of community and how modern society has lost its tribal elements. Also, Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, is probably the most beautifully written book I have read.
Do you volunteer? If so, where and why is that important to you?
I have volunteered with a number of organizations including Level’s Indigenous Youth Outreach Program, ProBono Law Alberta, the United Nations Association in Canada, the Forward Summit, Samaritan’s Purse and World Vision Canada. I have also volunteered with the respective faculties of law at the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta. Serving the greater community was an important value that my parents instilled in my brothers and I growing up. I feel that I have been given such great opportunities in life and that it is my duty to give back and to serve my community in some way. With the urgent access to justice issue in this country, it is particularly important that lawyers volunteer their services in some way.
What do you think is the most unique challenge for an Indigenous person in your industry/profession?
Because I work with so many Indigenous communities and businesses, being an Indigenous person in this profession has been an asset. Because of my background I think I have a sensitivity and greater understanding of the issues facing our clients. Being Indigenous has made me a better lawyer and has given me the ability to better serve our clients.