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).

An Evening of Connection and Community

The event welcomed attendees into the heart of Migizii Agamik, a culturally significant space for Indigenous students at the University of Manitoba. Sarah Shuttleworth (2L), MILSA’s VP Social Coordinator, reflected on the choice of venue, saying, “Networking events can be intimidating, especially for Indigenous law students, so we, as MILSA, wanted to ensure this event felt warm and welcoming—a reason why we chose to host the event at Migizii Agamik.”

From 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, the space buzzed with conversation, laughter, and a sense of shared purpose as participants connected, shared experiences, and celebrated the strength of the Manitoba Indigenous legal community.

Guests were treated to appetizers and snacks from Indigenous-owned businesses, including Sharecuterie and Bistro on Notre Dame, alongside a variety of non-alcoholic beverages. These thoughtful details set a tone of inclusivity and warmth, ensuring everyone felt at ease.

Reflecting on the event, Chloe Dreilich-Girard (2L), MILSA’s VP External – Métis, shared, “Hosting this networking event for Indigenous law students and lawyers in Migizii Agamik—a space already known to many who have been students at UM—was truly special. As soon as you entered the room, you could feel the energy—the warmth, the connection, the sense of belonging.”

Albert (2L) echoed this sentiment: “For me, this gathering felt like a celebration of connection and belonging—a momentary escape to the familiarity of home while attending the University of Manitoba. It’s often challenging to replicate the warmth and customs of life back on the rez, especially in an institution where practices and values can starkly contrast with the experiences I grew up with in Northern Manitoba, in my community of Kinosao Sipi. Yet, the atmosphere at Migizii Agamik during the event brought a sense of home that I am often missing while attending law school.”

Innovative Networking Activities

The event featured networking bingo, a creative and engaging activity designed to spark conversations in a relaxed environment. The bingo cards included prompts related to Robson Hall, MILSA, and the legal profession. Attendees eagerly connected to complete their cards, with lawyers like Stacey Soldier [JD/07] enthusiastically participating. Soldier, along with Genevieve Benoit [JD/20] and Janell Jackson (2L), won prizes for completing their bingo sheets first.

Reflecting on the atmosphere, Shuttleworth shared, “It was uplifting to watch everyone in the room talk and laugh—it felt as if we were all one big family.”

A Celebratory Turnout

“In Good Relations” saw an impressive turnout, including a strong presence of 2L law students and representatives from all levels of the Manitoba Indigenous Bar. Attendees included special guests Wendy Whitecloud, Robson Hall’s Elder-in-Residence, and Loretta Ross, Manitoba’s Treaty Commissioner. Their presence underscored the event’s importance in fostering relationships and inspiring the next generation of Indigenous legal professionals.

Sharing big laughs, playing bingo all night, and reflecting on our shared purpose of entering the legal profession to create meaningful change for Indigenous people reminded me why I chose this path, even during moments where I am questioning myself ‘Why am I doing this?’ Events like this are not just gatherings—they are affirmations of why we do what we do. – Julianna Albert, 2L

Albert (2L) reflected on the impact of the evening, saying, “It was a breath of fresh air to meet and connect with role models who have inspired my own journey to law school—trailblazers like Daphne Comegan [JD/21], Jeremy McKay [JD/18], and Alyssa Bird [JD/19]—true Indigenous legal powerhouses. They carved out paths and created spaces in law school where they once had to run, so students like me can now walk. Sharing big laughs, playing bingo all night, and reflecting on our shared purpose of entering the legal profession to create meaningful change for Indigenous people reminded me why I chose this path, even during moments where I am questioning myself ‘Why am I doing this?’ Events like this are not just gatherings—they are affirmations of why we do what we do.”

A Vision for the Future

This event, conceptualized by Chloe Dreilich-Girard (2L), VP External – Métis, and Kiersten Sanderson (2L), VP Professional Development, highlighted the power of informal networking to build community. The MILSA executive team worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life, and their efforts paid off in an evening that exceeded expectations.

The success of “In Good Relations” has sparked hope that it will become an annual tradition, continuing to provide a space for relationship-building within the Manitoba Indigenous Bar. Dreilich-Girard said, “While this was our first time hosting an event like this, I truly hope it won’t be the last. We need more spaces where we can come together as Indigenous peoples in the legal profession, where we can be our authentic selves, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships.”

Gratitude and Looking Ahead

Ekosani kinanaskomitinawaw MILSA for the hard work and care that went into creating such a memorable experience. It’s not every day that you can share your mlahs, those big auntie laughs, and speak your rez slang without hesitation or shyness. Thank you for making space for that joy, and for reminding me of the community I carry with me even while away from home. – Julianna Albert, 2L

MILSA extends its heartfelt thanks to the lawyers, students, and graduates who attended, as well as the volunteers and executives who dedicated their time and energy to planning the event. As this initiative grows, it promises to strengthen connections and create lasting impacts on the Indigenous legal community in Manitoba.

Albert offered her gratitude, saying, “Ekosani kinanaskomitinawaw MILSA for the hard work and care that went into creating such a memorable experience. It’s not every day that you can share your mlahs, those big auntie laughs, and speak your rez slang without hesitation or shyness. Thank you for making space for that joy, and for reminding me of the community I carry with me even while away from home.”

With its emphasis on community, collaboration, and mentorship, “In Good Relations” serves as a shining example of how shared spaces and shared stories can unite and inspire.