Peter Garrow

Peter Garrow is a member of the Mohawks of Akwesasne First Nation in the Cornwall area and Director of Education for their Board of Education. He also served as Director of Education for the Assembly of First Nations. He chairs the Ontario Public School Boards Association Native Trustee Council, teaches Native Studies at St. Lawrence College and has developed curriculum in this area.

He chairs the ongoing, high-profile negotiation sessions on self-government between the Federal Government and Akwesasne. He has been a champion for several First Nations causes, including Shannon’s Dream (equitable funding for First Nations children), Jordan’s Principle (to provide emergency health care to children and sort out jurisdictional responsibilities later), and the implementation of the UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People.

In 2010, Peter was made a member of the Akwesasne Lacrosse Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport. In 2012 he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of ground-breaking work in First Nations education. In 2013, he received Rotary International’s highest accolade, The Paul Harris Award for selfless community service.