This year, the Kawaskimhon did a number of things differently. Instead of conducting negotiations between the colonial government and Indigenous people, it involved all Indigenous organizations negotiating a treaty amongst themselves. As well, table awards were given out for the first time to honour team work at each table. Manitoba’s team of Lathlin and Jackson brought home one of those table awards.

The specific problem at this year’s moot involved each team representing an Indigenous community coming together to protect the water. As Dreilich-Girard explained, each table consisted of six teams, each representing different Indigenous organizations and governments, all with the goal of protecting the Lake Winnipeg Watershed. “Throughout the negotiation, we worked to move beyond colonial legal frameworks, and opted to create a Water Treaty inspired by the Buffalo Treaty. This treaty recognized principles such as kinship, reciprocity, respect, relationships, regeneration, and responsibility. It also integrated ceremony as a way of honoring and upholding these commitments.”

“In creating the treaty, we acknowledged and recognized the ongoing work being done in community such as the great work being done at the Turtle Lodge. We emphasized the need for a Grandmothers’ Council and ensured that the treaty, along with all related documents and communications, would be available in the languages of all signatory nations. Additionally, we called for the renewal of relationships and commitments to be marked during the solstice. One of the most significant aspects of our treaty was Article #7, which spoke about the importance of future generations being included in all discussions and decisions, with an open seat at every discussion and gathering to welcome new community members and individuals who wish to join the conversation.”

Dreilich-Girard observed that “This opportunity saw us utilize what we’ve learned in the classroom while integrating ceremony and teachings.”

Kawaskimhon Team Manitoba (left to right): Coach Marc Kruse [JD/15], Director of Indigenous Legal Learning and Services; Mary-Charlet-Lathlin (3L); (back left) Raven Morrisseau (2L); Chloe Dreilich-Girard (2L); Janell Jackson (2L); Coach Daniel Diamond, Assistant Professor, UM Law.

Thanking her teammates, Dreilich-Girard said, “Together, we successfully mirrored the partnership our “clients” have, and navigated the negotiation process while supporting each other’s visions and goals.

The moot’s keynote speaker was Aimée Craft, a Full Professor at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Common Law, who holds the University of Ottawa Research Chair Nibi miinawaa aki inaakonigewin: Indigenous governance in relationship with land and water. Her talk highlighted the “incredible work being done by communities to protect water, including the development of a Water Treaty,” said Dreilich-Girard.

The team thanked their coaches Kruse and Diamond for their support throughout the Kawaskimhon including bringing them Thunder Bay’s iconic Persian donuts.

Finally, Dreilich-Girard extended kihchi marsii to her and Morrisseau’s table moderator, Jamie McGinnis, Manager of Legal Services, Human Rights Legal Support Centre in Thunder Bay. “Her guidance was instrumental in helping us navigate the negotiation with respect, reciprocity, kinship, relationships, regeneration, and responsibility all in mind.”

Littlechild’s visit came about due to earlier connections he had with Manitoba law students. Two Youth Chiefs of the Southern Chiefs Organization, Tréchelle Bunn (2L) and Josh Gandier (2L), had met and worked with him in the summer of 2024 at the 17th Session of the Expert Mechanism on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Geneva, Switzerland, and spent some time with him later at the Olympics in Paris. He was also the guest speaker at the Indigenous Bar Association conference this fall. Gandier knew Littlechild would be the perfect guest speaker for Robson Hall’s Indigenous Methodologies course and recommended him to his instructors, Assistant Professors Daniel Diamond, Leo Baskatawang, and Marc Kruse, Director of Indigenous Legal Learning and Services. The instructors especially asked Littlechild to speak to law students about Governance and his time at the UN.

Kruse had the opportunity to spend some time in private conversation with Littlechild while driving him from his hotel to Robson Hall. “I was particularly interested in his time in the UK where he brought the “Divisible Crown” case in 1981,” said Kruse.

The case, the full title for which is The Queen v The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, ex parte Indian Association of Alberta,”  was presided over by the legendary Lord Denning, and was monumental in Canadian Constitutional Law. It established that the Government of Canada was “a successor State to the British Crown” and therefore it, and not the Government of the United Kingdom was now responsible for upholding the treaties and obligations entered into by the Crown with Indigenous peoples in Canada.

“[Chief Littlechild] told me about spending months with Lord Denning, who heard the case and chose it as his final decision before his retirement,” said Kruse. “He spoke about the “suprise” of seeing the judiciary in the UK wigs and the differences in practice. He noted that the Nation had a few lawyers, where the Crown had over 25 legal counsel to argue their case. The case itself took several months and he was able to talk to the class about his experience.”

Importantly, before starting the class and upon arriving on campus, Gandier and Kruse offered a smudge to the Chief. “He told us, and the class, that he was thankful for the opportunity to have a smudge before speaking about Treaty,” Kruse noted. “He said, the Elders have always said that one must have smudge, and ask for permission and guidance, before speaking on Treaty so he was happy that Robson Hall offered him, and understood, the ILO [Indigenous Legal Orders] protocol.”

Kaitlyn Clarke (2L), who serves as MILSA VP Communications was one of the 15 members of the Manitoba Indigenous Law Students’ Association to join the noon-hour meeting prior to the class lecture where Littlechild noted that when he was in law school, there were only five Indigenous students in law school across Canada. Here, he was with over 15 in one law school alone. “He shared how sport took him to law school and joked about the grudge he used to have against the U of M because their hockey team went to the World University Games the year the U of A was supposed to attend, but the rules changed,” Clarke said.

Clarke recalled Littlechild’s teachings in the mandatory second-year Indigenous Methodologies class, where he spoke about Treaty 6, and shared what it means to his home, the Ermineskin Cree Nation: “He highlighted the four elements of the treaty: (1) written text, (2) oral testimony and the understanding in Cree, (3) sacred ceremony, and (4) the legal aspect – what courts have to say. He also emphasized that it is an international treaty, a sacred nation-nation and government-government agreement.”

Past and present members of MILSA present Chief Wilton Littlechild, with a Winnipeg Jets WASAC (Winnipeg Aboriginal Sports Achievement Centre) Jersey.

“My main takeaway from Chief Littlechild’s visit was a profound sense of gratitude—gratitude for the fierce advocates, like Chief Littlechild, who have dedicated their lives to fighting for Indigenous rights,” said Clarke, “When he attended law school, there were only five Indigenous students across Canada, and the Dean told him that being Indigenous was already a strike against him. Today, I am privileged to attend law school with at least 20 other Indigenous students in 2L at my school alone. I can sit in a room and listen to the powerful stories of an internationally respected Chief, personally welcomed and thanked by our Dean. It’s a humbling reminder of how far we’ve come and how fortunate I am to proudly share and celebrate my Métis identity—something my ancestors could not do.”

Janell Jackson (2L) had heard Littlechild speak in the past at various Assembly of First Nations events she attended as a young elected councillor for her community in 2015. “I was so excited when I was told that Dr. Littlechild would be visiting our final lecture for Indigenous Methodologies,” she said. “I had a very hard time understanding his talks back then [in 2015] because I was so young, and so new to the political landscape of Indigenous Relations. Now, after a year and a half of Law courses compiled with an undergrad, I finally comprehend the things he speaks about with the United Nations, Law, and Treaties. So, this was a very special time for me to listen, rather than engage. My appreciation and gratitude were through the roof.”

Jackson emphasized that Littlechild “understands the atrocities that have been imposed on Indigenous peoples, because he is a survivor. He has lived in a way that he represents Legal Order[s], advocates for Justice, while honouring his identity through the Colonial Systems.”

“I just wanted to express my gratitude to him, and tell him how important his role modelling and leadership have been for me on my journey when I began a tumultuous political life at such a young age,” she said, adding, “In case folks don’t know, he does the Land Acknowledgement for Hockey Games in Treaty 6!”

Recent graduate and past MILSA Executive Melinda Moch [JD/24] is an articling student at MLT Aikins, who took time out of her busy day to attend. “The chance to sit and listen to counsel from Chief Willie Littlechild was and is a lifetime opportunity. The life and experiences of an Indigenous trailblazer such as Chief Littlechild are not common. His contributions and positive impact on historical moments such as the implementation of UNDRIP and the founding of the North American Indigenous Games are simply incredible,” she said. “I asked Chief Littlechild about his involvement in one of his many historical accomplishments, that of being on the inaugural Board of Directors for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Chief Willie shared that the decision to place the Museum in its present home of Winnipeg, being the only Federal Museum to be housed outside of Ottawa, was one that honoured Winnipeg as a historical meeting place for Indigenous Nations dating back over 10,000 years.”

However, Moch said, “the biggest takeaway for me was Chief Willie’s investment in Indigenous youth. Despite constantly travelling the world engaging in international political matters, Chief Willie made space and time to travel to Manitoba to engage with and inspire Law Students at Robson Hall.”

Chief Wilton Littlechild will return to Winnipeg in January to help SCO host the United Nations’ Expert Mechanism on the Rights for Indigenous People (UN EMRIP).

“It was a great few days of learning and connecting with Indigenous lawyers and students from across Canada,” said Dominique Gibson (3L) who attended along with fellow Manitoba Indigenous Law Students’ Association (MILSA) members Melinda Moch (3L), Sarah Shuttleworth (1L), Nadine Plourde (2L), Carlie Kane (3L), Mary-Charlet Lathlin (2L), Shelby Sinclair (3L), and Zackery Anderson (2L).

Shelby Sinclair was re-elected to the position of Vice-President First Nations of the National Indigenous Law Students’ Association for the 2023-24 year.

On Thursday, October 12, MILSA representatives gathered together with all of the National Indigenous Law Students’ Association (NILSA) members attending the IBA Conference for a Student Day. In addition to the NILSA annual election, the students went to a retreat centre on Rama First Nation to learn more about how Anishinaabe legal traditions are expressed through art. Gibson said, “The sessions, which were primarily lead by Chief Lady Bird (an artist and educator) and Jeffrey Hewitt (Associate Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School) helped us to better understand how we can better incorporate Indigenous legal traditions into our own learning and law school experiences. In addition, we engaged in various sessions of land-based learning, which was one of my favourite parts of the conference.”

At the election, Robson Hall 3L Shelby Sinclair was re-elected to the position of Vice-President First Nations of the National Indigenous Law Students’ Association for the 2023-24 year. “I am extremely grateful,” said Sinclair. “I hold this position very near to my heart as I know what it feels like to be one of the only First Nation law students at a school. I will continue to provide supports, resources, and be a voice for First Nation law students across Canada. Although the process may be difficult, it is moments like this that make it all worthwhile. I endeavour to encourage other First Nations people to pursue law. Miigwetch!”

Marc Kruse speaks on TRC Call to Action #28 at the 35th Annual Indigenous Bar Association conference, accompanied by Assistant Professors Daniel Diamond and Leo Baskatawang. Photo by Nadine Plourde.

On Saturday, October 14, Assistant Professors Leo Baskatawang and Daniel Diamond, together with Marc Kruse, Director of Indigenous Legal Learning and Services, discussed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #28 as part of a Breakout Session at the Conference. They discussed the importance of interpreting Call to Action #28 broadly and holistically, rather than as a mere box-ticking exercise. In particular they discussed current initiatives at Robson Hall, and reflections on best practices and strategies for implementing Call to Action #28 at law schools in Canada. Finally, they discussed institutional and structural barriers for the meaningful implementation of Call To Action #28 and the process of Indigenizing legal education, as well as pathways for overcoming these barriers.

“Robson Hall was extremely well represented at this year’s Indigenous Bar Association conference,” Baskatawang observed. “I have no doubt that the innovations we are making in legal education, both as an institution and through our teaching practices, will one day be emulated by every other law school in Canada.”

The three panelists from Robson Hall had recently organized a major conference on September 22 to launch the inaugural Interdisciplinary Journal of Indigenous Inaakonigewin, which featured Ovide Mercredi, O.C., O.M. [LLB/77] as keynote speaker. The new Journal, created with the intention of uniting scholars, community leaders, and artists that have an interest in Indigenous law and remedies for justice, is currently accepting submissions until January 15, 2024.

Kawaskimhon is a nêhiyawêwin (Cree language) word that means “speaking with knowledge.” The Kawaskimhon moot stands out from all other moot competitions in that it centers Indigenous legal orders alongside federal, provincial, and international law. The moot is consensus-based and non-adversarial. Students are given a fact pattern and divided into teams that represent each party to the case being addressed. This year’s “problem” was based on an actual situation involving a gas pipeline that had been partially constructed in northeastern British Columbia with interested parties including federal and provincial governments, several oil and natural gas companies, and Band councils with several reserves in Wet’suwet’en territory.

Teams from over 20 law schools across Canada took part. The Manitoba team of Kowal and Gray represented the provincial government, and the team of Alexander and Cavallo represented the Wet’suwet’en Matrilineal Coalition (WMC). Gray and Cavallo shared some thoughts about their experiences taking part in this unique moot.

Both are currently completing their final year of law school. Gray has particular interest in Indigenous law as it relates to Indigenous land, governance and economic development. He is most interested in reattaching his family’s links to its Indigeneity, which were severed after his grandmother was sent to residential school. Cavallo’s mother is Indigenous, and Cavallo’s maternal grandmother is from the Key First Nation in Saskatchewan on Treaty 4 territory. Cavallo is interested in legal issues that involve Indigenous / Aboriginal rights and land use. “Preserving lands, culture and the rights to self-governance are crucial,” she explained, “and this moot was a way for me to further my understanding of different laws, different issues, and it allowed me to speak with other individuals who share similar backgrounds, stories and passions.”

What motivated you to take part in this particular moot?

Gray: A few things. First, I have been gaining an increasing interest in Indigenous legal topics. This moot provided an opportunity to explore, in a more practical way, that desire to engage with Indigenous issues.

There is more than reading, hypothesizing, and thinking about Indigenous issues with this moot; there is an opportunity to see how some of these concepts may play out in practice and how real-world emotions, circumstances, relationships, and experience may impact negotiations on a topic as charged as a pipeline being installed throughout Indigenous land.

Second, I was particularly interested in this moot because of the format. Most moots available to Robson Hall students follow the same format of written and oral arguments [being made] to a panel in competition format. This moot rather focuses on negotiation, Indigenous legal tradition, and changing positions based on new information; it is more collaborative and solution-based rather than competitive.

Participating in a non-traditional moot provided a unique experience most students won’t get, one that I think is very valuable and a highlight of my law school experience. – Brayden Gray, 3L

Cavallo: There were multiple motivators for me in relation to partaking in this moot. The first one was that I really wanted to research and brainstorm Indigenous legal issues and Aboriginal law with other students across Canada. As an Indigenous law student, listening to other Indigenous students share their thoughts, understandings and research on different topics was a once in a lifetime experience. We were able to be “counsel” representing a client in a moot but also students who could share our personal opinions and thoughts outside the mock negotiation experience, and this was one reason I really wanted to partake in the moot.

Another motivator for me was being able to experience a moot, in its entirety, with some of my closest law school friends. My moot partner Heather and I were able to able to conduct our research together, work on a negotiation plan, travel, and go through the whole new experience together.

My last motivator involved meeting and learning from different Indigenous lawyers and professionals across Canada. At Robson we had Marc Kruse and Daniel Diamond as our coaches. They were able to guide us and provide assistance as needed. Then at the moot, there were professors, practicing lawyers, elders etc., who provided students with guidance, stories, and who were such knowledge keepers on different topics. It was an educational experience like no other.

Do you already know what area of law you intend to practise in or did this moot experience have an impact on that?

Gray: I intend to practise civil litigation generally, although I am interested in far too many topics to know what specialty I would like to have in that area. I also have developed a deep interest in administrative law. However, this moot specifically has concretely established an interest in Indigenous law. I always had some interest, but participation in this moot deepened it; I found great intellectual and emotional satisfaction from engaging in issues that are personally important. If I find myself practicing Indigenous law in the future, I know I will be able to attribute much of it to my experiences participating in this moot. It gave me practical experience I may have needed to grow my interest in practising in the area.

Cavallo: I want to practise criminal law. Coming into law school I had a feeling I wanted to practise criminal law as it has always been an area of law that interests me. While Indigenous / Aboriginal law is something I am interested in on a personal level, I don’t know if it is an area of law I want to practise.

This moot was such a different experience than criminal law, it was non-traditional and non-adversarial. We sat in a circle, smudged at the beginning of each day of the negotiations, used a speaking feather and were only able to talk when it was our turn, when we were in possession of the eagle feather.

This moot taught patience, the importance of listening to others, the importance of collaboration in these types of settings etc. I will say during the moot, it was such a nice change of pace from the traditional court system and the procedures of court. It made me appreciate the different type of practice and wish that some of those aspects would be adopted in other areas of law.

What were your biggest take-home lessons from this experience?

Gray: Three takeaways come to mind from this experience. First, how fulfilling it is to be surrounded by other Indigenous people who are so welcoming and inviting. Due to my family’s life circumstances, I have largely been severed from my Indigenous ties. So to be welcomed and invited to partake in Indigenous tradition, witness local dancing, experience local cuisine, and generally socialize with Indigenous people across the country was incredibly fulfilling and connecting. I left the Kawaskimhon moot with friends, connections, and a feeling of rejuvenation for connecting with my Indigeneity. Spending time with my teammates and other teams was worth the experience on its own.

Second, I left the Kawaskimhon with a better understanding of Indigenous perspectives on issues such as pipelines and how important other aspects of these issues are, such as Indigenous governance. A large aspect of the moot was figuring out the Indigenous group’s governance system and how that system impacted the decision-making of all parties. The dynamics of multi-group negotiation of an Indigenous issue was an aspect I did not fully appreciate until this experience. This is an experience I can relate to my future understanding of similar issues. Altogether, I can appreciate the intricacies of these issues on a much better plane than before.

Lastly, I left with an appreciation of the importance of non-traditional law school experiences such as this moot.

If not for this moot, I may not have had my interest in Indigenous law rejuvenated, I may not have felt so reconnected with my Indigeneity, and I may not have met such amazing people. – Brayden Gray, 3L

I know experiences such as this moot mean a lot to those who want to participate; it provides an opportunity to engage with ideas and topics in a way that we seldom get to in law school. The coaches also provided great insight into issues and topics before, during, and after the moot, which enriched the entire experience. Their understanding of the relevant issues and insight went far beyond the information necessary for the moot and extended to reshaping how I think about Indigenous issues and perspectives.

Cavallo: My biggest take-home lesson from this experience is how important it is to collaborate with others when researching and discussing such important topics that impacts so many people. Questions regarding land, land title, Aboriginal rights etc., are not simple questions, there is not one easy answer.

Listening is worth so much more than speaking sometimes, and this moot really highlighted that for me. Additionally, a big take away and something I will cherish knowing is that the future generation of lawyers I met at this moot will be good advocates for Indigenous communities. – Careena Cavallo, 3L

Are there any courses you took that you found helpful for this moot?

Gray: The mandatory negotiations 2L course I found helpful concerning negotiation strategy. However, although I did not take them, I think Indigenous-focused courses would be more helpful for understanding how Indigenous-created law and the common law interact and how this may impact positions within a negotiation. The moot requires a constant reminder that the common law has limited application in these negotiations and that Indigenous legal orders and governance matter heavily. These are aspects that, if not focused on in school through optional courses, I think law students will have difficulty fully comprehending. Immersing oneself in Indigenous-focused curricula generally and shaping one’s understanding of Indigenous law would greatly help with this moot.

Cavallo: Aside from Constitutional law that is mandatory in 1L, I took Indigenous Methodologies and Perspectives in 3L and the course and the topics we covered were extremely helpful for this moot. Additionally, having experience with legal research and writing is key, it allows you to focus on the contents of what you are researching instead of the basics of how to research or write a paper.

What would you say to the next batch of law students to encourage them to take part in this moot?

Gray: I would encourage those interested in Indigenous legal issues and how Indigenous legal orders interact with other aspects of the Canadian legal system to participate in this moot. This moot is a unique way to put that interest into practical experience. All the moots provide valuable experiences and memories, but the Kawaskimhon provides a unique experience in being a non-competitive negotiation, being steeped in Indigenous legal tradition, and focused less on legal arguments and more on the interactions of positions between parties. I would be hard-pressed to find a better way to spend 3-credit hours of law school. Besides, who doesn’t want to take a trip for a class and enjoy some fantastic Indigenous cuisine while they’re at it?

Cavallo: This moot was a highlight for me in law school. It was challenging, enlightening, rewarding and fun. I think students should want to participate in this moot going forward not just for the educational experience but more so for the moot experience itself. The moot was filled with culture, history, education, and a bunch of students who are interested in similar things as you. Aside from negotiating on the moot topics itself, my favourite part of the moot was taking part in the different ceremonies offered during the moot. This moot is such a good experience for so many reasons and it’s hard to put into words how amazing this experience was.

An official launch of the book will take place at McNally Robinson Booksellers on Wednesday, April 19 at 7:00 p.m. with host, James Daschuk.

Baskatawang is an Anishinaabe scholar from Lac Des Mille Lacs First Nation in Treaty #3 territory. He graduated with a PhD in Native Studies from the University of Manitoba in 2021. There, he taught online courses, and went on to hold an appointment in the Law and Society Program at York University, where he taught the courses “Indigenous Peoples and Law” and “Social Justice and Law.” Since joining the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law at Robson Hall in 2022, he has taught “Indigenous Methodologies and Perspectives” to upper year law students along with colleagues Marc Kruse, Indigenous Legal Studies Coordinator, and Assistant Professor Daniel Diamond. He also teaches “Introduction to Law and Society,” and “Oral History, Indigenous People and the Law.”

Baskatawang’s primary research interests include: the processes of colonization, reconciliation, and decolonization; social justice; the history of Indigenous peoples (with particular attention to the Anishinaabe); Indigenous law and Canadian policy; treaty interpretation and implementation; Indigenous education; Indigenous resistance and activism; as well as Indigenous literature, art, and representation.

His SSHRC-funded doctoral dissertation “Kinamaadiwin Inaakonigewin: A Path to Reconciliation and Anishinaabe Cultural Resurgence” reflects on the development of the Treaty #3 Anishinaabe education law as it is known in the oral tradition, into a written form of law. As he explains in the following interview, this dissertation was the inspiration behind his new book.

In Reclaiming Anishinaabe Law Baskatawang traces the history of the neglected treaty relationship between the Crown and the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty #3, and the Canadian government’s egregious failings to administer effective education policy for Indigenous youth—failures epitomized by, but not limited to, the horrors of the residential school system.

Rooted in the belief that Indigenous education should be governed and administered by Indigenous peoples, the future Baskatawang envisions is hopeful for Indigenous nations where their traditional laws are formally recognized and affirmed by the governments of Canada. He details the efforts being made in Treaty #3 territory to revitalize and codify the Anishinaabe education law, kinamaadiwin inaakonigewin. Kinamaadiwin inaakonigewin considers education wholistically, describing ways of knowing, being, doing, relating, and connecting to the land that are grounded in tradition, while also positioning its learners for success in life, both on and off the reserve.

As the backbone of an Indigenous-led education system, kinamaadiwin inaakonigewin enacts Anishinaabe self-determination, and has the potential to bring about cultural resurgence, language revitalization, and a new era of Crown-Indigenous relations in Canada. Reclaiming Anishinaabe Law challenges policy makers to push beyond apologies and performative politics, and to engage in meaningful reconciliation practices by recognizing and affirming the laws that the Anishinaabeg have always used to govern themselves.

What was your motivation for writing this book?

The motivation for writing this book was inspired from my doctoral research. I initially intended to write my dissertation on the Canadian government’s failure to adequately implement the treaty right to education. However, the focus of my research shifted when I learned about the Grand Council Treaty #3’s desire to codify a Treaty #3 Education Law. Being that the Canadian government has historically failed to develop an education policy that is respectful of Indigenous cultures, it seemed to me that having them recognize and affirm the authority of Indigenous nations’ own laws on education was a good way to test the government’s commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s “Calls to Action” and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Who should read this book?

This book was written with the intention of being immediately accessible to all Canadians, whether they are Indigenous or not. As such, I hope the information I provide in the book will be of interest to government officials, policy makers, community leaders, educators, administrators, and students of various disciplines, including law, education, history, political science, and Indigenous studies, as well as to those conducting research on the processes of reconciliation and cultural resurgence. As I say in the book’s introduction, if my book can help to advance any of these matters in the glorious pursuit of social justice, all the better.

What do you most hope readers will take away from this book?

I think there are two important overlapping principles to take away from the book. One is that Canada has a long history of neglecting the treaties it signed with Indigenous nations, which is exacerbated by imposing policies on Indigenous peoples and communities that have been extremely harmful to their overall health and well-being.  The second important message of the book is that all Indigenous nations have their own laws and governance systems that are capable of designing policies for the betterment of their communities and people. These laws and governance systems are formally recognized by UNDRIP, and need to be recognized and affirmed by the Canadian government as well.

What gap in knowledge do you know will be filled with this work?

The fact that Indigenous nations have their own laws and governance systems is only beginning to be recognized by Canadian society in general. This awareness is growing, due in large part by the work of Indigenous legal scholars such as John Borrows, as well as cultural resurgence scholars such as Leanne Simpson and Glen Coulthard. My research builds on the work of these scholars, with the hope that it will be useful to other scholars, as well as community leaders who have an interest in developing laws and policies that will better serve their nations and people.

To what extent can the information in this book be used to help communities in other Treaty areas?

I am conscious of the fact that my research is primarily dedicated to the people of the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty #3. In the book, I am careful to consider that every Indigenous nation, or community for that matter, has different needs and interests that relates to education. That said, I hope the information that I provide in the book will be relevant to any Indigenous government that is considering undertaking a process of codifying some of its laws, particularly those that relate to education, since as I previously mentioned, Canadian education laws and policies have not adequately served Indigenous nations as they ought to.

What research project will you next be working on?

I am currently in the process, with the help of a few colleagues, of developing an annual volume of the Interdisciplinary Journal of Indigenous Inaakonigewin, in association with the Manitoba Law Journal.  As part of this process, we are looking to recruit, both early-career and established scholars, community leaders, Elders, and artists, who have knowledge to share on how Canadian laws and policies can be amended to better serve Indigenous communities and people. Such knowledge mobilization is an integral part of the reconciliation process, and will be reflected in our journal in the form of academic papers, interviews, and artistic expression. In addition to the journal volume, my colleagues and I, are also planning to host an annual conference at the University of Manitoba which will be open and accessible to all, where these ideas can be shared, discussed, and included as part of our journal.

At the December 7th University of Manitoba Senate meeting, changes were approved to both the Master of Laws (LLM) and Juris Doctor (JD) programs that will enhance the legal education of both undergraduate and graduate students in the Faculty of Law. Beginning in September of 2023, all new JD students will be required to take, in their second year, Indigenous Methodologies and Perspectives, currently being taught as an elective this year by Assistant Professors Leo Baskatawang and Daniel Diamond, together with Indigenous Legal Studies Coordinator Marc Kruse. The Office of the Dean of Law thanks these instructors for their hard work, and that of the Faculty of Law’s Truth and Reconciliation Advisory Team in achieving the implementation of this course.

Also next September, JD students will be able to focus their studies in the new concentrations, which will be recorded on their transcripts upon graduation. LLM students will, for the first time in the history of the program at the University of Manitoba, be able to select clinical course electives to enhance their experiential learning opportunities.

The Faculty of Law extends congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Schulz and Dr. Virginia Torrie, and many thanks to Dr. Laura Reimer and Rosa Muller for their efforts in administering and facilitating these important changes to the Faculty of Law programs.