Before politics, Atwin was an education consultant and researcher at a First Nations Education Centre.
Early life and education
Jenica Atwin was born Jenica Powell and grew up in Oromocto, New Brunswick.[4] Her father Bob Powell is the mayor of Oromocto.[5] Her stepfather is Ron Tremblay, the Wolastoq Grand Chief.[6] In high school, she was class president.[5] She completed a Master's in Education at the University of New Brunswick.[7] In 2016, Atwin co-organized a spin-off of We Day focused on introducing First Nations youth to one another and helping those who have recently moved off of reserves.[8] This took place during Atwin's four years as a cultural transition coordinator and researcher with First Nation Education Initiative Incorporated.[9][10]
In April 2021, Atwin introduced her first private members’ bill, Bill C-285, which would impose a nationwide ban on the use of glyphosate on forests and fields across Canada, stating that the use of glyphosate is a menace to human health, and plant and wildlife diversity.[15]
In May 2021, in response to the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, Atwin condemned Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip and called Israel's control of the area apartheid. Atwin also called out Green Party leader Annamie Paul's statement on the conflict calling for de-escalation and more dialogue as "totally inadequate". In response, Paul's senior advisor Noah Zatzman blasted Atwin and fellow Green MP Paul Manly in a May 14 Facebook post, calling their statements regarding the crisis "appalling" and antisemitic, and saying "we will work to defeat you."[16] This followed a statement published on the party website that quoted Paul regarding the crisis,[17] which Atwin responded to with a statement that both reiterated support for the official party policy[18] on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict of expecting MPs to oppose the siege of Gaza and illegal settlements, and described the statement quoting Paul as "totally inadequate".[19]
Atwin subsequently crossed the floor and joined the Liberal Party on June 10, citing lack of support from Paul's leadership after Zatzman's threat.[20] Paul disagreed with this account and commented the events had nothing to do with Zatzman or her;[21] however, Manly and May, the remaining Green MPs, issued a statement stating: "Unfortunately, the attack against Ms. Atwin by the Green Party leader's chief spokesperson on May 14th created the conditions that led to this crisis."[22] On June 14, 2021, shortly after joining the Liberal caucus, Atwin apologized for her earlier remarks, saying that she "regrets her choice of words" and adding: "Palestinians are suffering. Israelis are also suffering as well as their loved ones in Canada and around the world."[23][24][25]
On September 16, 2023, Atwin was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services.[26] In August 2024, Atwin sponsored three Palestine-related petitions, one calling for Canada Pension Plan divestment from Israel, another calling for the teaching of the Nakba in school curriculums, and a third calling for the House of Commons to "re-evaluate the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada program for Gaza".[27]
