Bartleman: Ontario's first Native Lieutenant Governor

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Prime Minister Jean Chretien named Rama First Nations own James Bartleman as Ontario's twenty-seventh Lieutenant Governor on Jan. 10.

In his new capacity as the Queen's representative in Ontario, Bartleman replaces Hilary Weston, who was appointed to the post five years ago and whose term has expired.

Bartleman, the father of three, was born in Orillia and raised in Port Carling. He is Canada's most senior Aboriginal diplomat and with this appointment Bartleman will be returning home from Brussels, leaving his current post as the head of the Mission of Canada to the European Union.

Prime ministers as far back as Lester B. Pearson have relied on Bartleman's advice. He is a seasoned career diplomat and political advisor who has served several years in Chretien's cabinet as the Prime Minister's handpicked foreign policy advisor. Bartleman has also served terms as Canada's High Commissioner to South Africa and Australia, as well as terms as Canada's Ambassador to Cuba and Israel. Bartleman has seen service as Canada's director general of security and intelligence during the Cold War.

With this new appointment by the prime minister, Bartleman has achieved the highest rank in Ontario of any Aboriginal public servant.

In 1999, the Canadian Aboriginal community recognized Bartleman's achievements with a National Aboriginal Achievement Award in the Public Service category.

In the 1970s, he designed the first ever action plan to bring First Nations people into the public service. Today, decades later, he's still working hard at this cause.

"I have never felt that my Aboriginal background has either helped me or hindered me, but as an individual I think that it has given me a much richer life, knowing what life as a Aboriginal is like," said Bartleman in a 1999 interview. "It gives me tremendous pride to be a member of the First Nations community," said Bartleman from Brussels.

"It is a tremendous sense of honour to have been asked to take on this responsibility, something that I had never expected, but I will do my very best to represent the people of Ontario," Bartleman said.

Bartleman received the news of his new appointment in a phone call from Prime Minister Chretien. He then called his mother to give her the news.

"He calls me every morning to see how I am. When he called me the second time, I knew something was up. He asked me if I was standing up or sitting down and then he told me. This (appointment) comes as a surprise, but I'm happy for him and very proud," said Maureen Bartleman.

"James grew up in the bush in Port Carling," said his mother. "The Chippewas of Rama used to travel here every summer to fish and hunt. Way back this used to be our traditional summer camp. James comes home as often as he can, but he wishes that it could be more often. I am fortunate to be able to still speak Anishnawbe. James, however, wishes now that he had learned his language as he is very proud of his Anishnawbe heritage. James worked hard, very hard to achieve all that he has done. He believes that a good education is the key to making great accomplishments."

Bartleman's appointment has been noted by Ontario's Aboriginal community, as well as Native leaders across Canada. Union of Ontario Indians Grand Chief Vernon Roote said although he was happy for the recognition of Aboriginal people that comes with Bartleman's new position, he hoped that this appointment would allow Bartleman to highlight some of the issues concerning Native people in Ontario.

Bartleman has said that he will be particularly interested in Aboriginal and mental health matters during his term as Lieutenant Governor.