Jessica Fletcher: CLA Student President Training: A unique perspective on Aboriginal law and justice
Our UBC Chapter President, Jessica Fletcher, reports on our recent Student President training session:Each year, Canadian Lawyers Abroad picks a theme related to law and development, which will serve as a source of inspiration for CLA Student Chapters to both become better informed about the area, and to organize awareness-raising events among the broader student body. This year the theme is “Indigenous Rights and Access to Justice for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples.” LexisNexis Canada and The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company are generously sponsoring this year's Student Program.To kick start the Student Chapters’ exploration of the theme, CLA holds an annual training session in Ottawa for Student Chapter presidents. This leadership session coincides with the Canadian Council on International Law’s annual conference, so that students can benefit from both experiences. From November 3rd to 5th 2011, I was fortunate enough to be one of the students attending this training.Thursday evening, Catherine McKenna opened her home to students representing 14 law schools across the country and to three special guests: Madeline Redfern, Mayor of Iqaluit and a graduate of the Akitsiraq Law School; Raymond Powder, Deputy Chief and a Councillor of the Fort McKay First Nation; and Jason Madden, a Métis Lawyer who acted as General Counsel to the Métis National Council and practices Aboriginal law. Following a Gowlings-sponsored dinner, we had an intimate evening listening to each special guest in turn, followed by a more open discussion. The speakers each outlined their unique career path and highlighted the issues that are important to their communities. They also encouraged us to consider the impact of the law on Aboriginal peoples as we go on in our careers and to listen and ensure that a true partnership with Aboriginal peoples exists. Each student was engaged and full of questions. I know that I speak for more than myself when I say that the evening ended all too quickly. Amazingly however, the feeling of captivation ignited among us that evening continued throughout the whole of the following day.Friday’s schedule was packed full of speakers. Each raised new issues and approached the broad topic of Indigenous rights and access to justice from a different angle. We heard from Professor Lindsay Robertson of the University of Oklahoma, Faculty Director of the American Indian Law and Policy Center and Associate Director of the Inter-American Center for Law and Culture. Professor Robertson introduced an international perspective on Indigenous rights which helped to contextualize the Canadian approach to Aboriginal law. Next, we heard from Viola Thomas, a survivor of residential schools who currently works in Community Relations at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Ms. Thomas shared with us her deeply personal experiences, experiences which are central to understanding the complicated web of Indigenous injustice today. Other speakers on Friday were Maxime Faille, the Head of Gowlings' Aboriginal Law practice, who spoke about the experience of representing Indigenous communities, Larry Chartrand, a professor of law at the University of Ottawa, and Stuart Wuttke, General Counsel for the Assembly of First Nations. Many thanks to the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law for sponsoring our lunch.
Viola Thomas of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
To finish off a beautiful day, we were invited into the U.S. Ambassador’s residence for a reception to celebrate the Student Program kindly hosted by Mrs. Julie Jacobson. At the reception, Jeff Hewitt, Counsel for the Chippewas of Rama First Nation spoke. In his address, Jeff asked a simple question which is inextricably linked to Indigenous access to justice issues: Who belongs? Who is invited to decide key issues which affect Indigenous groups? Who is criminalized disproportionally by the ’justice’ system? Whose interests are reflected by government policies, social norms, and politics? The answers - if there are any - are not simple, but must be answered by anyone who is interested in pursuing social justice for all peoples.
CLA-ACE Executive Director Catherine McKenna, speaker Jeff Hewitt, and Mrs. Julie Jacobson
It is difficult to express the impact this brief weekend has had on me. I returned to school feeling inspired, frustrated, angry, and motivated: a combination which seems simultaneously unlikely and unavoidable in light of the topic. What is clear is that the stage has been set for an engaging year at our student chapters and, more importantly, better awareness amongst some of the next generation of lawyers of the importance and diverse meaning of Indigenous access to justice.
Our student chapter presidents with CLA staff and Mrs. Julie Jacobson
P.S. Take a look at the great event our student chapter hosted yesterday:
