DUNCAN, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, January 18, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ — Chief Lydia A. Hwitsum, JD, has been inducted into Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Hwitsum is a notable voice and figure in the First Nations community as the chief of the Cowichan Tribes in British Columbia, Canada. Reelected in 2022 after serving two terms as the chief councilor between 1997 and 2001 and again between 2007 and 2011, she serves as their political voice and representative overseeing health, child, and family services. Ms. Hwitsum also deals with land and water issues and manages housing, finance, social development, and elders and youth departments for over 5,000 individuals in the community.
Beyond her work with the First Nations community, Ms. Hwitsum has been the principal of Hwitsum Consulting since 1997. Drawing inspiration from her mother’s support, who is a fluent speaker of their language, she looks forward to future success.
Throughout her career, Ms. Hwitsum has presented before the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples and the Organization of American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. A dedicated advocate for promoting a collaborative agenda to find solutions, she emphasizes amplifying the voice of First Nations, particularly during the decision-making process. Moreover, Ms. Hwitsum aims to establish a cooperative framework nationally and internationally, serving as a driving force in shaping policies and legislation that reflect the values and needs of First Nations communities worldwide.
Ms. Hwitsum is active civically with numerous organizations. She is presently a member of the BC First Nations’ Justice Council, the co-chair of the FN/BC Water Table, First Nations Water Caucus, and a member of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Task Group, BC First Nations Fisheries Council.
Ms. Hwitsum graduated from the University of Victoria in Canada with a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1997, becoming the first Cowichan female to obtain a law degree. She also holds a certificate of administration of aboriginal governments and a diploma in public sector management from the university. Moreover, Ms. Hwitsum completed dispute resolution training through the BC Justice Institute.
In light of her success, Ms. Hwitsum received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Victoria and was decorated with the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal.
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