On a legal path: Derek Fox

Bearskin Lake’s Derek Fox is looking forward to starting his law career in Thunder Bay.
“I grew up in Thunder Bay and I always thought it wasn’t a very comfortable place for a First Nations kid to live,” Fox said, noting he faced racism while growing up in the city. “I just felt that if I got my law degree, I would be empowered to protect myself and to protect First Nations people eventually in the future.”
Fox’s interest was piqued after he spoke with Matthew Angeconeb, who was called to the bar and formally licensed to practice law in Ontario in 2007.
“He was talking about law school,” Fox said. “I had decided that I wanted to do more schooling and I was either going to pursue my masters, maybe a PhD, or go to law school, so I decided to go to law school.”
Fox is set to graduate from Robson Hall, Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba on May 31 after studying for the past three years. He had previously attended Lakehead University and the University of Manitoba.
“I met a leader, Bentley Cheechoo, about 10 years ago and he said you should continue with your education, value your education,” Fox said. “Another man, Justice Murray Sinclair, said the same thing. He said your ancestors fought for our right to education so we should honour it.”
Fox said he learned about overcoming adversity during his time in law school, noting he had ups and downs and periods of doubt about continuing with his law degree.
“Law school humbles you, so you need to work hard no matter what you’re doing, no matter what your craft,” Fox said. “If you’re not willing to work hard, you’re not going to excel and you’re not going to learn.”
Fox already has a job lined up at Cheadles, one of Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario’s oldest law firms, where he worked last summer doing research on legal questions for cases.
“They specialize in all kinds of law,” Fox said. “I’m not sure which area I will practice yet, but they do everything so I’ll get a pretty good idea in my articling year.”
Fox begins articling in August.
“We’re just given a lot of work,” Fox said. “You’re basically like a lawyer, but you’re taught all the practical, legal sides of it.”
Fox said it is important for First Nations people to pursue and achieve different careers to provide role models for youth in the future.
“I just feel that I’m contributing to something that’s bigger and better for Treaty 9 and Treaty 3 and First Nations people,” Fox said. “I want to see more doctors and more lawyers and more teachers and more athletes.”
Fox said his family and friends are proud of his success, noting he almost died from Blastomycosis, a fungal disease, five years ago.
“I think my two boys are extremely happy for me,” Fox said. “They are my inspiration. They are the reason why I succeeded and why I did so well in law school.”
Fox kept a picture of his sons on the wall where he studied for inspiration to keep going when he was tired.
“I’d rather study knowing that I’ll be providing a life for my sons,” Fox said. “My family is everything to me.”