A member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation will be awarded the Order of Ontario.
Geraldine Robertson is one of 23 new appointments which includes comedian Dan Aykroyd, mental health advocate Dr. Dorothy Cotton and internationally renowned paediatrician Dr. Upton Allen.
Elder Robertson is devoted to educating both natives and non-natives about the devastating impact of residential schools on generations of indigenous people.
As a child, she was sent to the Mohawk Institute in Brantford where she endured horrific physical and mental abuse.
She has toured cross-country and spent five years going to schools in Lambton-Kent and, most recently, appeared in a documentary where she talks about her experiences.
The Order of Ontario recognizes individuals whose exceptional achievements in their field have left a standing legacy.
An investiture ceremony will be held at Queens Park on February 27.