Quite an icon in a country in the process of reconciliation with its indigenous peoples. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday nominated Indigenous judge Michelle O’Bonsawin for the country’s Supreme Court.

Indigenous peoples make up nearly 5% of Canada’s total population. A historic first and another step towards appeasement after numerous scandals surrounding the treatment of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people.

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Judge Michelle O’Bonsawin to the Supreme Court of Canada, a body recognized worldwide for its strength, excellence and independence,” Prime Minister Trudeau said in a statement.

An appointment that marked the history of the Supreme Court

Judge O’Bonsawin, an Abenaki member of Quebec’s Odanak First Nation, is also “perfectly bilingual” in French and English, a fact pledged to Justin Trudeau at a time when the practice of French in Canada is in decline, according to a recent review published official data. Michelle O’Bonsawin has been a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice since 2017 and has specialized in many areas throughout her career, including mental health and human rights.

“As an Indigenous woman growing up in northern Ontario, I realized that empowered people must have a strong and representative voice for those who cannot speak for themselves,” the judge wrote in her government-released application questionnaire.

Michelle O’Bonsawin’s appointment is her second consecutive appointment to the Supreme Court. Last year, Mahmud Jamal became the first non-white person to be appointed to the court.