Raising the Bar: Indigenous Women’s Impact on the Law-scape

Caption: Panelists Dr. Val Napoleon, Kim Murray, Dr. Tracey Lindberg, and Lana Lowe on October 30. (Photo: Martin Lipman)

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Following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report and its calls to action, the Government of Canada committed to a renewed nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples based on recognition, rights, respect, co-operation and partnership. Call to action 50 calls on the government to fund the establishment of Indigenous law institutes for the “development, use, and understanding of Indigenous laws and access to justice in accordance with the unique cultures of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.”

Over the past 20 years, Indigenous law or legal orders, laws rooted in the practices of Indigenous societies, have received increased attention from both the academic and legal communities. In an effort to foster Indigenous legal knowledge-building in Canada, the Public Policy Forum (PPF) hosted panel discussion in Ottawa on Tuesday, October 30. The panel event aimed to both explain and to showcase the importance of Indigenous legal orders to both the reconciliation process and to moving towards greater inclusion into Canada’s judicial system.

Indigenous women are essential to developing a greater understanding of Indigenous law, within their communities as well as among the Canadian population. Female legal scholars and lawyers, including Dr. Val Napoleon, Ms. Kim Murray, Dr. Tracey Lindberg, and Ms. Lana Lowe discussed their vision for a Canadian legal future that includes Indigenous legal orders. The panel was moderated by PPF Fellow Ms. Karen Restoule.

The panel discussion was followed by a reception co-hosted by Senator Yvonne Boyer, Senator Mary Coyle, Senator Lillian Dyck, Senator Frances Lankin, Senator Marilou McPhedran, and Senator Yuen Pau Woo.