Call to Action #28 - A Call to Law Schools in Canada
- Oct 26, 2021
- 2 min read
6 years after its release, I am finally digging into the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 calls to action. There are 65 days left in the year and the goal is to read and reflect on at least one call to action daily for the remainder of the year. Thank you for joining me on this journey. May our endeavour together be a catalyst for lasting progress and affect meaningful change in Canada.
Under the Justice category, the 28th Call To Action is:
“28. We call upon law schools in Canada to require all law students to take a course in Aboriginal people and the law, which includes the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and antiracism.”
Indigenous Watchdog Status Update: In Progress
"Most of the Provincial Law Societies have initiated a response to this Call to Action. The Federation of Law Societies of Canada made an initial commitment to respond to the Calls to Action on Mar. 11, 2016, and then on Nov. 20, 2017 and then again on Nov. 15, 2019. After almost 4 years there is still no supporting details on any specific actions and/or recommendations. Canadian Bar Association endorses this C2A as do multiple Faculties of Law."
please consider a donation to the Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op:
"The youth who attend CNYC come from difficult circumstances, often unhealthy and unsafe living conditions, and are faced with ongoing challenges as they transition into adulthood. Without positive family and peer support, they have not been successful in the conventional education system and many have been involved with the criminal justice system. A majority of our participants are youth between the ages of 16-19 and the vast majority of whom are Metis or Indigenous." Donate here: https://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=d96388
To learn more: https://cnyc.ca/
- Tallis
This is a really important topic and a thoughtful call to action for law schools in Canada — requiring all law students to take a course on Aboriginal people and the law, including the history and legacy of residential schools, treaties, Indigenous rights and intercultural competency, is something that many advocates and educators have been pushing for as part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, because it helps future lawyers understand the legal and historical context of Indigenous–Crown relations and equips them with skills in conflict resolution, human rights and anti-racism that are essential in practice today. Posts like this remind readers that legal education isn’t just about doctrine in isolation but also about preparing students to…
Reading through this call to action really highlights how important education reform is in shaping a more inclusive legal system. I once attended a seminar that touched on Indigenous legal perspectives, and it opened my eyes to how much is often overlooked in standard curricula. During busy semesters, it is easy to feel stretched and even think about options like hire someone to do my class for me, but engaging with meaningful topics like this reminds me why staying involved truly matters.