Supreme Court Justice Thomas Berger — UBC graduate, legendary lawyer and trailblazing advocate for Indigenous land rights — passed away today at 88.
Justice Berger’s groundbreaking work in First Nations activism led to the inclusion of Aboriginal rights in the Canadian Constitution. He was a counsel for the Nisga’a nation of B.C.. He led the 1975 Berger Inquiry, visiting dozens of First Nations communities along the Mackenzie River to understand the issues of land ownership, and prevented a massive pipeline project from disrupting these First Nations communities.
Justice Berger’s legacy continues to be celebrated today through the Dehcho project, a collaboration between Dené leaders and UBC academics including School of Music professor Eric Wilson, that honours First Nations music and activism.
On March 12, the UBC Chamber Strings did a recording in the Chan Centre as part of the Dehcho project, where Justice Berger spoke about his work on the Mackenzie River Pipeline Inquiry. That Friday afternoon was an unforgettable experience and I am so glad that our students in the UBCCS were able to meet, see and hear Justice Berger. Attending were his wife, Beverley, a daughter, Erin, along with a founding member of the first Indigenous education program at UBC, Verna Kirkness. Tom had just had a chemo treatment earlier that day at hospital but managed to bring himself to the Chan with his wife’s assistance. He strode up the stairs unassisted to the stage and addressed the students saying, “ Just call me Tom” as he looked into their eyes relating his experiences with such grace and ease as though he were in his living room. We have truly lost a great Canadian whose legacy will influence our lives for many generations. We are so grateful for his life and his contributions and to his family for sharing those blessings with us. He showed us that we can use our intelligence in a more meaningful and empathetic way that when applied with wisdom and kindness will make this world a far better place.
— Eric Wilson, Associate Professor of Cello and cellist in the Dehcho project
