Jaime Battiste

Jaime Battiste (born 1979) is a Mi’kmaq writer, researcher, historian and activist from Potlotek First Nation. A published author and researcher of Mi'kmaq law, he has worked on numerous boards for Mi'kmaq advancement, served on the National Executive Council of the Assembly of First Nations, taught as an assistant professor of Mi’kmaq Studies at Cape Breton University, and worked as legal adviser to the Mi’kmaq Grand Council. Battiste has published law review articles about Mi’kmaq law and Aboriginal and treaty rights. In 2004, he was honored as a National Role Model by the National Aboriginal Health Organization. In 2012, he was under contract with the Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative as a Citizenship Officer. He is currently a citizenship coordinator for the Mi'kmaq Rights Initiative.
Battiste has been interviewed and referenced by Maclean's, Herald News, The Cape Breton Post, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, and The Canadian Press.
Early life and education
Jaime Battiste was born at Potlotek in 1979. His family hails from Eskasoni First Nation, Nova Scotia. He is the son of Mi’kmaq professor Marie Battiste and Chickasaw legal scholar . Jaime Battiste also has a son named Jacoby Youngblood.
Career
Battiste is active in the Mi'kmaq political sphere, serving as the Interim Regional Chief for Nova Scotia/Newfoundland in the First Nations council. He is currently a citizenship coordinator at the Mi'kmaq Rights Initiative. He was a senior advisor for the Eskasoni First Nation Community and a former professor at Cape Breton University where he taught Aboriginal and Treaty Rights and Mi'kmaq History. He has written numerous legal articles for law journals. Battise also recently helped launch Tepi’ketuek, the Mi’kmaq Archive, used to as way to communicate the history and culture of the Mi'kmaq for both the past and present. Battiste states, “I am going to do the same things that I have always tried to do, which is to be a positive influence”.<ref name="naho.ca"/>
Publications
* "Understanding the progression of Mi'kmaw law." Dalhousie Law Journal.Battiste, J. (2008). Vol 31 (2) p. 311-350
* "Honouring 400 Years: Kepmite’tmnej." J. Battiste, 2010.
* "Introduction","Dawnland Voices: An Anthology of Indigenous Writing from New England." Senier, Siobhan. U of Nebraska Press, 2014.

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