Jack P. Blaney Award for Dialogue

The Jack P. Blaney Award for Dialogue is presented every second year to an individual who has demonstrated excellence in the use of dialogue to increase mutual understanding and advance complex public issues. The award includes multi-day programming and a CAD $10,000 award.

2024/25 Recipient: Judge Abby Abinanti

The 2024/25 Jack P. Blaney Award for Dialogue is presented to Judge Abby Abinanti for her innovative leadership in using dialogue to advocate for Indigenous rights and restorative justice.

Judge Abby Abinanti is the Chief Judge of the Yurok Tribe and the first woman from a California tribe to be admitted to the State Bar of California. Judge Abby, an enrolled Yurok Tribal member, has been at the forefront of the development of the Indigenous justice movement, addressing systemic issues that disproportionately affect Indigenous communities and championing the importance of understanding and integrating Indigenous values and practices into the non-tribal legal process. Judge Abby’s work has made a lasting impact on both her community and the broader justice system created by the invaders.

The award programming is supported by SFU Public Square

"There is something more important than information. Values are far more important, and it is by understanding common values that decisions are made. We come to understand values through dialogue."

    Dr. Jack P. Blaney, President Emeritus, Simon Fraser University

Past Recipients of the Jack P. Blaney Award for Dialogue

What is Dialogue?

The word is in our name but answering “what is dialogue” or understanding exactly what "dialogue" means can be difficult. There isn't one right way to define dialogue and it often means something different depending on the context, atmosphere and question you're trying to answer. Dialogue can support groups and communities to respectfully explore polarizing issues, address conflict, deliberate on potential for complex issues and much more. 

Learn More About Dialogue