Our recent and upcoming events reflect this commitment, showcasing our ongoing efforts to engage meaningfully with Indigenous knowledge, traditions and legal frameworks.
"As legal educators, it is our responsibility to ensure that Indigenous perspectives are woven into the fabric of our curriculum and community,” said Kristen Boon, the Susan & Perry Dellelce Dean.
“Through our work, we aim to foster an environment where reconciliation is not just a goal, but an integral part of the learning journey for all students.”
Kristen Boon
— The Susan & Perry Dellelce Dean, Common Law Section
The uOttawa Common Law Faculty prioritizes these critical conversations. Here’s a look at some recent activities and what lies ahead.
Restoule Ruling: A Panel Discussion on the Supreme Court of Canada's Decision
On August 27, we hosted a virtual panel discussion on the Supreme Court’s recent landmark ruling in Ontario (Attorney General) v. Restoule. The Court’s unanimous decision marked a significant moment in Canadian legal history, holding that the Crown had breached the Robinson Treaties by failing to diligently fulfill the Augmentation Clause. This ruling acknowledges the Crown's obligation to determine compensation for the Superior plaintiffs for amounts owed under the clause between 1875 and the present.
Moderated by Dean Kristen Boon, the panel brought together Anishinaabe leader Duke Peltier, David Nahwegahbow, Counsel for the Robinson Huron Treaties Litigation Fund in the Restoule case and uOttawa Faculty of law alum, and Sophie Thériault, Professor – Civil Law Section, to analyze the decision and discuss its broader implications for treaty rights and reconciliation in Canada. It was an opportunity for a national audience to engage with the ongoing legal and ethical responsibilities that the Crown has towards Indigenous communities.
Welcoming New Students: A Commitment to Learning Through Indigenous Frameworks
The 2024-2025 academic year began with a warm welcome on September 3, by Dean Kristen Boon and Gilbert Whiteduck, Algonquin Anishinabe Knowledge Holder for the Common Law Section, from the community of Kitigan Zibi. Mr. Whiteduck performed a sage smudging, a spiritual cleansing of energy to purify the spirit, mind and body. He also introduced braided sweetgrass to the students, which represents bringing communities together and connecting each member. This marked the beginning of a journey in law for the new students, and it was imperative that it be guided by a deep commitment to Indigenous knowledge and frameworks.
Orientation Week also provided interesting introductory sessions for new JD students. The English Common Law program held ‘The Seven-pointed Star, a framework for learning law through the Seven Sacred Teachings’, taught by Professor Aimée Craft. These teachings—Love, Respect, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, Humility, and Truth—offer an important lens through which students can approach their legal education. By grounding their studies in these principles, our students are encouraged to see the law not just as a set of rules but as a tool for fostering justice and reconciliation.
Later in the first week, students of the French Common Law Program attended a training luncheon entitled “Formation sur la reconciliation” (Training in reconciliation) and the English students attended “The Indigenous Peoples in Canada: Law, Land and Learning.”
The first-year students are currently participating in the first modules on Indigenous laws and legal traditions while learning about the role of Canadian law in colonization and cultivating fresh perspectives about what it means to undertake a career in law. These carefully crafted courses are grounded in the Seven Grandfather Teachings. Among the selection of instructors for these modules are alumni who are Indigenous women, associates from the firm First Peoples Law and Indigenous profs from the uOttawa Faculty of Law.
Building Community and Welcome Feast
Tasha Simon, Specialist in Indigenous Programs, is an Algonquin Anishinaabekwe and a member of Kebaowek First Nation. She is an alumna of the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law (JD ’20). In this role she focusses on building a strong sense of community for the Indigenous learners in the Common Law Section. Every year she hosts a Welcome Feast, a special event dedicated to welcoming the new and returning Indigenous students. This gathering, which was held on September 3rd, creates a supportive environment where students can meet one another, share experiences over a hot meal, and feel welcomed into the broader Faculty community.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: A Time for Reflection
As we move towards the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, the Indigenous Law Students’ Governance (ILSG) is selling orange shirts in support of this important day of reflection. These shirts symbolize our collective commitment to acknowledging the history of residential schools and the ongoing impacts of colonization.
In addition to the shirts, the Common Law Section will host special beading workshops on September 12 and 26, led by Tasha Simon. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to create beaded orange shirt pins while learning more about the importance of orange shirts and honouring the significance of the day.
Spirit Garden
Located on the third-floor terrace of Fauteux, the four sacred medicines are grown in the Spirit Garden: tobacco, sage, sweetgrass and cedar. Tobacco, known as the first herb given to Indigenous people by the Creator, is planted every year. It is used as an offering in every ceremony. Sweetgrass, sage, and cedar are hardy enough to survive through the winter and renew their growth in the spring. Every summer staff and faculty members gather for a day of gardening to tend to the sacred plants and celebrate a new season of growth.
Looking ahead: Continuing the Conversation
September 19: The Reconciliation and Decolonization Committee will host the first event in their Sage Advice Speaker Series. Senator Mary Jane McCallum will speak on Environmental Racism & Bill C-226, providing insights into the intersections of environmental law and Indigenous rights.
September 25: Professor Aimée Craft will participate in an event hosted by the David Suzuki Foundation entitled Reweaving the Legal Fabric: Indigenous Governance and Conservation Law in Canada. Professor Craft's work continues to shape the conversation around Indigenous water governance and conservation efforts.
October 2: As part of the Shirley E. Greenberg Chair for Women and the Legal Profession Speaker Series, we are also excited to host Angela Sterritt, journalist, host, and author of Unbroken, and Myrna McCallum, lawyer and host of the podcast “The Trauma-Informed Lawyer”. The talk, titled Unbroken: Investigating Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, will shed light on the critical issue of violence against Indigenous women and girls.
October 3: the Reconciliation and Decolonization Committee will host a reading circle featuring Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga. This important book delves into the stories of seven Indigenous students who lost their lives in Thunder Bay, raising essential questions about systemic racism and the treatment of Indigenous youth in Canada.
We remain dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of Indigenous law and perspectives. We continue to prioritize building a community that values learning, respect, and collaboration, while reconciliation shapes our work and our relationships with Indigenous communities. As we move forward, we invite our broader community to join us in these important conversations and actions.
