Rooted in Justice: Amy Constant’s Path to Leadership

The seeds were planted early for Amy Constant to grow into a leader.

Growing up in Melfort, Constant’s elementary school – Broadway Community School was to be shut down due to declining student population and decreased financing. With her parents, they organized a rally on Main Street with signs and media coverage.

The rally was unsuccessful in terms of saving the school, but a profound success in sparking something in Constant. From there, she regularly volunteered her time and efforts to others: her family collected clothes and food for effected families after a tornado hit southern Saskatchewan; she organized a fundraiser for a classmate involved in a car accident; she volunteered at the local food bank and any other event where she felt she could help.

“I definitely got it from my parents,” said Constant, a member of James Smith Cree Nation.

“We’ve very privileged people. Both of my parents have been employed my whole life, I’ve been able to go to school and post-secondary school, and we know other people don’t always have these same opportunities. So we want to be able to support and foster growth for Indigenous people and communities.”

Her continued dedication to helping others has been recognized with the 2025 University of Saskatchewan (USask) Indigenous Achievement Award for Leadership.

“I was in shock because I never thought about winning an award for this kind of thing,” said Constant. “My family has always done things just to help others, not for the recognition.”

Entering her third and final year at the USask College of Law, Constant has been a staple in the campus community. She is the President of the Indigenous Law Students’ Association (ILSA), a position that may have gone vacant had she not stepped up, where she works with getting the first year students acquainted and provides any needed support to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.

She’s also a supportive presence with other student associations, like the Black Law Students’ Association and Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers.

“Amy is a collaborative and collegial leader who leads by example. She goes the extra mile for people, and is very humble. She’s a true servant leader,” said Professor Martin Phillipson, Dean of the College of Law.

“She brings people together. That is a gift. (She also) has a wicked sense of humour,” he said.

Constant has always been driven to connect with others and fight for those in need. She attended the University of Regina, earning a Bachelor of Human Justice. After her degree, she got a job with the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) as a Justice Worker in the Alternative Measures and Extrajudicial Sanctions Program. It was there she realized she wanted to go into law school.

“I’ve always been passionate about access to justice and helping out the little guys,” she said. “After working with STC, I knew I could be an agent and advocate for them.”

Throughout law school, Constant has made it a priority to deeply understand the people she will be serving and representing. This summer, she is working with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) on the Treaty Day Team, where she travels to northern communities across Saskatchewan, helping deliver the Crown’s Treaty obligations.

It’s an experience that deepens her insight into Indigenous lives in Saskatchewan, and her resolve to help those around her.

“I want to work in criminal law, and knowing it’s mostly Indigenous people in the criminal system, now I can talk to them about their community. I’ll understand what life is like there,” she said.

“For some people in the justice system, this is the worst day of their lives. So I want to be helpful, and work with them as best I can. I want them to trust me, so I can make sure they’re heard and supported.”