Aboriginal Law Students' Association executives presented Ms. Jacobs with the Aboriginal Justice Award during the March 2 lecture.
(L to R: Dean Paton, Beverley Jacobs, Jenna Broomfield, Katie MacLean.)
Earlier this month, University of Alberta Faculty of Law professors, staff, students, and members of the public had the opportunity to learn from prominent members of the Aboriginal community and judiciary on various aspects of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Hosted by the Aboriginal Law Students' Association (ALSA), the Aboriginal Law Speaker Series is an important annual event for our law school community that provides an opportunity to learn about Aboriginal and Indigenous issues through a legal lens. This year's roster of distinguished speakers - four out of five of whom are University of Alberta Faculty of Law alumni - featured:
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February 29: The Hon. Beverley A. Browne, Justice, Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta, presented on "Diversity and Aboriginal Representation within the Justice System".
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March 1: Ms. Eleanore Sunchild, a lawyer from the Thunderchild First Nation in Saskatchewan, presented on the "Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement: The Realities of the Indian Assessment Process".
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March 2: Ms. Beverley Jacobs, a lawyer and public speaker from the Bear Clan of the Mohawk Nation on the territory of the Six Nations of the Grand River in southern Ontario, presented on "The Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry".
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March 3: Mr. Robert A. Philp, Q.C., Chief of the Commission and Tribunals of the Alberta Human Rights Commission, presented on "Human Rights, Justice and Reconciliation".
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March 4: The Hon. Leonard S. Mandamin, Justice, Federal Court of Canada, presented on the "Federal Court Action in Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission".
The speaker series also played host to a special award presentation. At the conclusion of the March 2 lecture, ALSA executive member Jenna Broomfield presented Beverley Jacobs with the ALSA's annual Aboriginal Justice Award, in recognition of her service to the community and outstanding contributions to Aboriginal justice initiatives. These many contributions include a term as president of the Native Women's Association of Canada (2004-2009), authorship of the Stolen Sisters Report with Amnesty International, support of those affected by the loss of loved ones to racialized and gendered violence, and advising the Government of Canada on the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
The University of Alberta Faculty of Law would like to thank the Aboriginal Law Students' Association for their hard work organizing this year's speaker series and the distinguished speakers for taking the time to share their knowledge and experience with us.