Leanne M. Bellegarde

Leanne M. Bellegarde, LLBDirector, Aboriginal InitiativesEdwards School of Business

From the Kawacatoose First Nations, LEANNE BELLEGARDE is currently the Director of Aboriginal Initiatives at N. Murray Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan.An experienced solicitor, she has continued to build awareness of Aboriginal culture through her work with many different organizations.She has worked with the Government of Canada in Treaty Land Entitlement, as lawyer for Sasktel and FSIN, as well as with serving as Senior Vice President Corporate and Legal for Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA).

Leanne Bellegarde-Daniels
...
Leanne Bellegarde-Daniels
...
Leanne Bellegarde-Daniels, a young First Nations lawyer has done just that.Entering the world of legal professionals and amassing the vast skills and legal experience over a relatively short time from law school graduation, Leanne has translated this into her own law practice providing a wonderful example to all First Nations young men and women.That example being that the professional community is an avenue for career development and progress for all ethnic origins.

Born in the Battlefords and identifying her First Nations band as the Kawacatoose through marriage, Leanne spent her early childhood in Meadow Lake.She completed her first 3 years of high school at Holy Cross in Saskatoon and graduated in Fort Qu'Appelle.

She entered a Sociology program at the University of Saskatchewan in 1985 and after spending a couple of years within this academic environment, realized that perhaps another academic choice might be more fruitful.A friend encouraged Leanne to explore the law school program and that the Native Summer School Law Program, a pre-law national program held at U of S might be the avenue to seek.

After completion of this program, pondering the legal world, Leanne worked toward the completion of her Arts Sociology degree whereupon her grandfather, as a mentor, prompted Leanne to complete her law degree and take up the challenge to become a model in the legal profession for First Nations people.

Leanne graduated in 1991 and accepted a research position with the Federal government in the Treaty Land Entitlement area.
...
Working again with the Treaty Land environment, Leanne gained additional experience working closely with Federal Justice as an outside counsel.Then a move to the City of Saskatoon in 1993-94 as a City Solicitor provided municipal legal knowledge.Armed with these new skills, Leanne then entered the corporate world and acted as an Industrial Relations and Corporate Counsel for SaskTel in Regina for approximately three years.In this capacity, Leanne was able to participate in significant First Nations relationship building with the provincial Crown.

The time was now right for this First Nations lawyer and the destiny that she has so admirably embraced.She arrived at a decision with her Federal, provincial and corporate experience and the support from the legal community and the First Nations community - to enter private legal practice and establish her own venture.

Perry Bellegarde, Chief, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, approached Leanne to become an assistant legal counsel for the FSIN in the important area of Treaty Governance, where she ultimately was appointed Executive Director.She also added responsibility for employment matters as well as participating in the guidance of the First Nations Trust Fund.

Then a move to become Legal Counsel to the FSIN for a period of time until Leanne became a mother.During her maternity leave, she concluded that her legal venture awaited and she made the decision to open her legal venture in August, 2000 at the urban reserve location in Sutherland.The move has proven to be timely for Leanne.She has established herself as an important professional leader for the First Nations people.Coupled with the experience she has accumulated since her journey into the legal world, offers her expertise to both aboriginal and non-aboriginal clients across the prairies.

A recent achievement of note is that Leanne conducted a presentation on behalf of her people to the National Energy Board in Calgary of which she is very proud.Leanne is hopeful that other First Nations particularly young women will choose to follow her lead in the legal profession and create their own venture.

Leanne M. Bellegarde, Director, Aboriginal Business Education Programs, College of Commerce, U of S.

Home > Edwards School of Business Faculty / Staff > Leanne Bellegarde
...
Leanne Bellegarde

Director of Aboriginal Initatives
...
Leanne M. Bellegarde is First Nation woman who belongs to the Kawacatoose First Nation located in the Touchwood Agency in Treaty 4 territory.Leanne grew up in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.

Leanne completed her law degree at the University of Saskatchewan in 1991.She was admitted to the Law Society of Saskatchewan in 1993 after completing her articles in the Saskatoon offices of MacPherson Leslie & Tyerman.

Leanne has worked with the Government of Canada on the Treaty Land Entitlement Agreement.As a Solicitor with the City of Saskatoon, Leanne provided comprehensive legal services to City Council and its committees, civic administration, the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners, and all other civic Boards and Agencies.Leanne was also employed as a lawyer with SaskTel in their head office in Regina.She returned to Saskatoon in 1998 to work with the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, providing a range of legal services, including, advising to the Office of the Chief, the Office of the Chief of Staff, Treasury Board, and administration of the First Nations Trust Fund.

After establishing a successful private law practice on the Muskeg Lake First Nation Urban Reserve in Saskatoon, Leanne was appointed the Senior Vice President, Corporate and Legal Affairs with the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority in June 2002.Leanne is currently the Director of Aboriginal Initiatives at the N. Murray Edwards School of Business (formerly the College of Commerce) at the University of Saskatchewan.

Leanne has served as the Chairman of the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners, and been a member of the RUH Foundation, and the United Way.She was a volunteer coach for Team Saskatchewan at the North American Indigenous Games 2002.Her family has been a billet home for a Saskatoon Blades player.Leanne competed in the 2005 World's Masters Games in Women's Softball-Fastpitch and her team, Sask. Connextion, is proud to have brought home a gold medal.She currently serves as a Board member on SaskEnergy and with the Strength of Spirit Advisory Committee with the United Way Saskatoon and area.

Leanne is honoured to have been recognized for women's leadership and excellence with the Athena award in 2003 and as one of Saskatchewan's Top 10 Women of Influence by SaskBusiness magazine.Leanne has been recognized as one of Aboriginal Business Canada's "Seeds of Success" and profiled in a number of publications such as SaskIndian, "Herstory" calendar, and the University of Saskatchewan's "Green and White".She has been a speaker at the University of Saskatchewan's "Women At the Top" series.

Leanne BellegardeDirector of Aboriginal Initatives