Sophie Pierre is recognized as one of the most accomplished Aboriginal leaders in Canada. She was first appointed Chief Commissioner of the British Columbia Treaty Commission in April 2009 to serve a three-year term. She has been reappointed twice, and her current term will extend to March 31, 2015.
Prior to her appointment as Chief Commissioner, Ms. Pierre led the St. Mary's Indian Band for 30 years, 26 as elected Chief and was the Administrator of the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Tribal Council for 25 years. She also served as the tribal Chair of the Ktunaxa Nation Council, Chairperson of the First Nations Finance Authority, President of St. Eugene Mission Holdings Ltd., and Co-chair of the International Advisory Committee to the Indigenous Nations Institute for Leadership, Management, and Policy for the University of Arizona.
Ms. Pierre was involved in the work of the British Columbia Claims Task Force which established the British Columbia treaty process and served as a Co-chair of the First Nations Summit, representing First Nations in the British Columbia treaty process. She has also served on several boards and committees, including the Environmental and Aboriginal Relations Committee of the BC Hydro & Power Authority and the First Nations Congress.
Ms. Pierre was recognized with the Order of British Columbia in 2002 and received the Individual Economic Developer of the Year award from the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) in recognition of her achievement for the construction of the St. Eugene Mission Resort Development. Ms. Pierre received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in the public service category in 2003
Pierre has been awarded two honorary Doctorates of Law—in 2010 from the University of Canada West and in 2012 from the University of British Columbia. Most recently, at the 2012 Governor Generals' Awards, Pierre was awarded a diamond Jubilee medal which recognizes the achievements of outstanding Canadians.
