For some it was one of the the most memorable political moments of 2015.
Justin Trudeau’s frank response to a question about his gender-equal cabinet made international headlines and lit up social media.
At Trudeau’s swearing-in ceremony, the prime minister was questioned on why he named 15 women and 15 men to his cabinet.
“Because it’s 2015,” Trudeau said.
Standing behind Trudeau was Jody Wilson-Raybould, who was sworn in that day as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
For Wilson-Raybould, it was a day to reflect on how far she has come.
“Walking up toward Rideau Hall led by our Prime Minister and his family was a moment that I’ll never forget.
“I saw people that I knew in the crowd. I saw people that were crying, I think, about our country and the new opportunities that we have as we move forward.
“When I was citing my oath, I thought about my mother. I knew that she was at home watching. It was emotional.”
WATCH: Jody Wilson-Raybould sworn-in as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Wilson-Raybould said Trudeau asked her to join his cabinet about a week prior to the swearing-in ceremony.
“He asked me to take on this role,” she said. “We talked a bit about what it meant to the country in terms of showing the diversity that exists, the different views and opinions that people have.
“He mentioned that his father held the same position that I now hold.”
Wilson-Raybould, who is a former Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief, Crown Prosecutor and treaty commissioner, is Canada’s first female aboriginal justice minister.
Symbolically, that’s significant: An indigenous woman and vocal advocate for more collaborative relationships between indigenous peoples and government is now in charge of the file that determines, to a significant degree, the nature of the legal relationship between indigenous peoples and government.
“I’m incredibly proud to be an indigenous person in this country, certainly proud to be a Canadian,” she said.
“There is no relationship that is more important to our government than the one with indigenous peoples.”
She adds that it’s important to “build that relationship and follow through with true reconciliation, but recognizing that our country is, and has been, built by a diversity of people and that we’re stronger because of it.”
READ MORE: How Justice Minister Wilson-Raybould could change Canada-aboriginal relationship (no pressure)
In a mandate letter to Wilson-Raybould, Trudeau outlined issues that his government considers top priorities. Among them are responding to the Supreme Court of Canada decision regarding physician-assisted death, repealing key elements of C-51, and the legalization and regulation of marijuana.
Wilson-Raybould said she recently met with Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson to discuss the city’s experience with medical marijuana dispensaries.
Another priority is an inquiry into murdered and missing indigenous women in Canada.
“I think that societies are defined by how they treat their most vulnerable,” said Wilson-Raybould. “In this particular case, with respect to the murdered and missing indigenous women, this is a national tragedy, it’s an international tragedy that we need to address in a concerted way.
“I feel high expectations, I think that high expectations are necessary because we have so much to do.”
-With files from Anna Mehler Paperny and The Canadian Press
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