Bunn receives national award for social justice

Birdtail Sioux First Nation Chief Trechelle Bunn has been named among the 2026 recipients of the Royal Society of Canada’s Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella Prize.

The award, which came with a $1,000 prize, recognized 24 graduating law students across Canada with the potential to advance equity and social justice nationally or internationally.

The Royal Society of Canada announced this year’s award recipients on Sept. 15.

Trechelle Bunn, who completed her law degree at the University of Manitoba’s Robson Hall Faculty of Law, was selected by the faculty to receive the honour.

“It’s an honour to have been chosen by the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law, Robson Hall, to receive that award,” Bunn told the Sun Saturday.

The recognition comes as Bunn balances the final stages of legal education with her responsibilities as chief of Birdtail Sioux First Nation, she said.

“I think when you receive these kinds of awards, they are a huge honour, but they also come with a lot of responsibility,” Bunn said. “I’m honoured, but I also know that there’s a lot of work that lies ahead, and especially with my role as chief, there’s a lot of work that has to be done.”

Bunn, 26, was elected chief at age 25 and is the first woman and youngest person elected chief of Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation. Her election also made her the youngest chief in Manitoba, according to the Manitoba Legislature and other sources.

She said the accomplishments associated with her leadership and education are not hers alone, crediting her family and community for supporting her.

“I don’t think that I achieved any of these things. I think that my family, my community, we achieved them together,” she said.

Bunn said her election was particularly meaningful because community members chose a young woman to become their first female chief and youngest leader.

“I think that says more about my community than it could ever say about me,” she said.

“Whenever I think about being the first in my family or my community to do something, I think that’s hopeful because I may be the first, but I won’t be the last,” Bunn said. “I think of all the young girls, all the young people after me who will be chief and know that if I did it, they could do it too.”

Bunn said she wants her leadership to be defined by how she serves her community.

“One of my biggest inspirations is the late Justice Murray Sinclair,” Bunn said, referring to the former senator and judge. “He shared that what it takes to be a great leader is learning to love your people and all people, even if they don’t love you back.”

Bunn said she hopes to be remembered as someone who consistently acted in the best interests of her community.

“I want to be remembered as someone who showed up with love,” she said. “I want to be remembered as someone who is loving and always held the best interest of my community at my heart.”

She said that her goal is to leave Birdtail Sioux better than she found it.

“I hope I am remembered as someone who is loving and always chose love,” she said.

The Royal Society of Canada said 24 law students received the Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella Prize in 2026, alongside 17 other RSC awards recognizing contributions across disciplines.

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

» X: @AbiolaOdutola