Unsung Hero: Dennis Callihoo

Dennis Callihoo is a lawyer with 27 years at the bar, an arbitrator and member of the Michel First Nation. Dennis graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1989 and articled with Leonard (Tony) Mandamin. He was an Assistant Professor at the University of Lethbridge for 1 year before entering general practice in Maskwacis for 8 years. In 1990 he became In-House Counsel for the Yellowhead Tribal Council for 14 years. He continues to work with First Nations in the areas of Justice, Governance, Employment Law and Election related matters.

Dennis is a past recipient of Premier’s Award of Excellence in Justice in 2010 for his contributions to the establishment of the Law Information Centres in Alberta. Prior to that he was also a recipient of Aboriginal Role Model of Alberta Award in 1997 in the Justice Category. Dennis’ volunteer service is extensive and he has been recognized by over 35 non-profit organizations including the Legal Aid Society of Alberta, Boyle Street Community Co-op, Canadian Native Friendship Centre and the Edmonton Community Legal Centre.

A desire to work with aboriginal organizations led Dennis to completing his law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School. Acquiring his education at a distance was much like his grandfather Victor Callihoo who attended St. Josephs (“Dunbow”) Indian Industrial Residential School south of Calgary in the early 1900’s. The Dunbow School was the first of three industrial schools in western Canada, which taught farming skills and the use of machinery including steam engines.

Children (under the Indian Act and related policies) at this time as young as five were forced to attend residential schools. The choices of the time for this area were the St. Albert Residential School where the Callihoo’s had “bad experiences” including hygiene, health and overcrowding issues or Dunbow.

It took a 7 day trip by a team of horses and wagon to travel from the Michel Reserve to the High River area for the Callihoo’s to visit their son. It was Victor Callihoo who ended the cycle of Residential schools, which began to happen to his own children by forfeiting his native status in 1928. As one of ten families who gave up native status under the Indian Act, they donated a property from this enfranchisement and organized a School District to operate a school for the local community including reserve and off reserve students.

Victor Callihoo was elected as one of the first School Trustees of the Michel School in 1929. The Michel School was open for 30 years until it was closed and amalgamated with the County of Parkland in the late 1950’s. This experience is likely a large contributor of how Dennis developed his view of reconciliation and of working together.

Arman Chak, human rights lawyer and Bencher with the Law Society of Alberta says of Dennis that “[he] provides a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. More than an advocate, he presents his client's cases in a manner that points to ways in which the situation can be managed better for the future.”

After brief consideration, Dennis explains reconciliation as a mutual relationship with a view of reconciliation as a goal to be achieved, “like a step in one direction working together, towards Canadians having a better understanding of aboriginal people, their history and the significance of Indigenous Treaties.” Specifically referring to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Dennis believes it is an effort and opportunity to change a past relationship by working together.

Working towards a shift from an adversarial system towards a more inclusive and supportive system, his efforts working in the Alberta Justice Policy Advisory Committee from 2007 to 2011 is one of his fondest experiences. The group comprised of government, justice stakeholders and aboriginal representatives which focused on needed changes to the justice system, re-instilling public confidence in the system for a meaningful benefit for all Canadians.

This experience was “a very good example of working together” in a mutual relationship and stepping in one direction. He is currently on the Board of Directors for the Ermineskin Women’s Shelter Society, the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters and the Foundation of Administrative Justice.

On a personal side, Dennis is an avid sports fan, cancer survivor and accomplished musician. As a teenager, he performed at a downtown Edmonton restaurant for two years as a soloist and continues to play for personal enjoyment. He plays classical, popular music, and jazz “lite”, “I like my improvisation well planned out” he says with a grin.

Do you know an Unsung Hero? Tell us about them. If you know a lawyer who deserves to be recognized, please send us an email to communications@cba-alberta.org with the lawyer's name and the reasons why you believe they are an "unsing hero". The only formal requirements for nomination are that our "unsung hero" be an Alberta lawyer and a CBA member.