While there’s the usual sprinkling of household names in this winter’s appointments to the Order of Canada, recipients announced Friday include many unsung champions in fields from Indigenous rights to health sciences.

The Governor General’s office announced 125 new appointments, including 86 new members, and promotions within the Order for 35 officers and four companions.

Women make up 37 per cent of the appointees, including Calgary singer-songwriter Jann Arden.

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High-profile Torontonians on the list include Mark Breslin, the founder of Yuk Yuk’s comedy club, and Dale Lastman for his contributions in sports, health and LGBTQ communities.

William Shatner was among the 35 appointed as officer.

About 7,000 people have been invested into the Order since it was created in 1967. Three years after that, one of Friday’s appointees began the life’s work that earned her the honour.

Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, a Nishnawbe woman from the Wikwemikong Reserve in Northern Ontario, is being recognized for her leadership in advocating for Indigenous women’s rights.

Corbiere Lavell’s work began in 1970, after she was served a notice from the former Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development telling her she would lose her Indian status, as per the Indian Act, because she had married a non-native man.

“It was totally devastating,” the 75-year-old said in an interview. “That put me on the path to being an activist (and) looking at the rights of our people, specifically Indian women and how come we’re so mistreated.”

She was working in Toronto when she received the government’s letter, and met lawyer Clayton Ruby and several other young activists before launching her legal challenge to Section 12 of the Indian Act. Her case reached the Supreme Court, which ruled against her.

The section was finally repealed in 1985, after the enactment of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In that time, Corbiere Lavell founded the Ontario Native Women’s Association, presented to the United Nations, and supporting rights of Indigenous people at the grassroots level.

After a lifetime of work, she said being appointed to the Order is a step forward in recognizing the work of Indigenous women.

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“I am honoured and I feel it’s good in terms of showing all the other young women who are coming up now, and making them realize that all the work and action they’re doing at the community level ... can also achieve and do something good for their people,” she said.

Her hope is that the government offers more support to Indigenous communities as it does to municipalities.

“That’s my dream right now, is to try and improve our communities so that we can have at least a sense of comfort to give to our young people, and young families,” she said.

There are 20 other Indigenous people receiving the Order, including poet and author Lee Maracle; the first Indigenous NHL player, Fred Sasakamoose; and Robert Joseph, founder of Reconciliation Canada.

Regional leaders like Andrew Qappik, an Inuit printmaker, and Louie Kamookak, an Inuit historian and expert on the Franklin Expedition, are also being recognized.