It touches my heart’: Mi’kmaw lawyer called to the bar in historic ceremony, believed to be 1st for P.E.I. – CBC

Aug 25, 2021

‘I felt accepted, I felt happy, I felt delighted to put on the ribbon shirt’

Michael Sima is officially a practising lawyer on Prince Edward Island and he’s believed to be the first Indigenous person openly identified to be called to the bar on the Island.

Sima, who is Mi’kmaw, has been working as an articled clerk with Pamela Large-Moran (PLM) Law, and was called to the bar Tuesday afternoon.

He was surrounded by family, friends and colleagues in what was a historic, unique and emotional ceremony from start to finish.

Inside the courthouse, Justice Terri MacPherson presided over the call to the bar. There was a smudging, a prayer, two oaths, including an Indigenous one, as well as the eagle feather teaching. Sima also wore an Indigenous medallion and ribbon shirt.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-bar-call-historic-ceremony-1.6151589