ABORIGINAL INTENSIVE PLACEMENTS 2015 LINDSAY BEC For my Aboriginal Intensive experience, I had the unique opportunity to work at two offices of the Alberta Government in Edmonton. I spent about half of my time working at Alberta Justice, Aboriginal Law and the other half at Aboriginal Relations, Aboriginal Consultation Office (ACO), Operations Branch. During my time at Justice and the ACO, the majority of my work was focused on Metis Aboriginal rights and the evidentiary requirements to demonstrate a credible assertion of rights for a Metis community. This included research not only into the legal precedents established in case law, but also research on the history of Metis in Alberta, the practical concerns for consulting with Metis communities from an operations perspective, and looking at specific Statements of Concern from Metis Locals. I also had the opportunity to accompany the ACO and other groups from Aboriginal Relations to several meetings with the Metis Settlement General Council where I was able to get a better sense of the Crown s relationship with Metis communities and the work involved in implementing a consultation process for Metis Settlements. At Alberta Justice, I was able to receive mentorship from government lawyers, get a better understanding of Alberta s position on Aboriginal law issues, and learn more about past and current actions the Crown is involved in. At the ACO, the staff were extremely accessible and met with me on numerous occasions to explain Alberta s consultation process to me and candidly discuss policy considerations. Overall, everyone was so welcoming and open with me. It was an exceptional opportunity that really brought home all of the classes I had taken in law school in a impactful and meaningful way. SERENA DYKSTRA Through the Intensive Program in Aboriginal Lands, Resources, and Government, I was placed with the Human Rights Legal Support Centre in Toronto. The Centre promotes equality and protects human rights by providing a range of accessible legal and support services to those who have faced discrimination as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code. During my time with the HRLSC, I provided summary legal advice during intake calls, interviewed and assisted Aboriginal clients on filing applications, and conducted legal research on questions related to Aboriginal people and the Code. Aboriginal people have experienced a history of discrimination and do not always know their rights under the Code. The HRLSC is committed to providing culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal people who wish to access the human rights system. My experience with the HRLSC was a valuable and rewarding one that confirmed my strong interest in Aboriginal law and issues related to Aboriginal people. It also strengthened my skills in research, legal writing and advocacy work.
ROSALIE FRANCIS My placement was at the Indian Law Resource Centre, a non-profit organization located in Washington, D.C. which addresses legal issues affecting Indigenous people in the Americas. During my placement I worked with Leonardo Krippa, an Argentinian attorney who has defended Indigenous issues within the Inter-American Court system and before the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, and with Karla General, a Mohawk lawyer who works within the United Nations system and the Organization of American States. While at my placement I had the opportunity to collaborate with Leo Krippa on the development of a consultation document for the World Bank and their consideration of Indigenous issues. I also had the opportunity to undertake research into Indigenous participation within the United Nations, identifying potential ways to address existing barriers. One of the most significant opportunities I was afforded was my participation in the working group on Indigenous peoples within the Organization of American States. During the two sessions that I was able to attend I was directly involved in the drafting of the indigenous declaration. LEAH GARDNER I worked at the Center for Environmental Advocacy (CIAM) in Panama City. This NGO uses legal action and political advocacy to support citizen participation in environmental decisions, defend environmental rights, and promote sustainable development practices. While interning at CIAM, I carried out a research project on mine closure laws in Panama. The objective of this research was to provide information for CIAM s campaign calling for a moratorium on mining in Panama. I also provided assistance to the organization s work surrounding the Barro Blanco hydroelectric dam. Overall, it was an exciting and enriching experience. In the picture, I m with my supervisor, lawyer Tania Arosemana, holding copies of a suit filed at the Supreme Court of Panama.
HOLLY LANGILLE I had the pleasure of working at West Coast Environmental Law in Vancouver for my placement. The organization is a non-profit firm that works towards greater environmental protection through legal advocacy. During my time at WCEL, I was able to contribute to their blossoming Indigenous Law file. Engaging with indigenous legal orders through story was a humbling experience for me. I was able to put my theoretical work into practice when we attended an Indigenous law conference on Vancouver Island. There, I also had the opportunity to speak with both John Borrows and Dr. Val Napoleon, two of Canada s leading Indigenous legal scholars. The organization also hosted a series of dialogue sessions around shortcomings within the provincial environmental assessment review process; particularly the failure to properly account for the cumulative effects of development. We looked at how the assessment process related to the many Liquefied Natural Gas pipelines tabled for construction in British Columbia s near future. Our organization partnered with another non-profit organization and, as part of that partnership, I traveled to the northwest coast and facilitated conversations on the environmental risks associated with LNG pipelines. The purpose of those sessions was to facilitate conversation about the values held by community and how we might work together to protect those shared values. It was a privilege to work at this leading environmental organization. I felt immediately welcomed by the entire staff and my time with the organization exceeded all my expectations; I felt truly valued as a student at WCEL. LIANE LANGSTAFF I was placed in Toronto with Ontario Power Generation s (OPG s) Corporate Business Development department, a challenging and innovative group dedicated to developing new energy generation opportunities in Ontario. In this role, I researched legal issues regarding OPG's aboriginal consultation on proposed energy projects. In addition, I explored the potential for renewable energy partnerships with Northern Ontario First Nations, recommending solutions to overcome legal and practical barriers to effective partnerships. My work also extended beyond strict legislative and case law analysis to determining how to implement the duty to consult in various project settings. This was accomplished by organizing consultation activities and timelines, summarizing funding opportunities for aboriginal partners, preparing informational materials for consultation meetings and assisting in meetings with First Nations. In this way, my placement was a fantastic opportunity to bring together my interests in aboriginal and environmental law as well as the renewable energy business. My placement supervisors were incredibly supportive and exposed me to a breadth of projects - from hydroelectric to solar developments, each with different jurisdictions and legislative requirements. The Corporate Business Development group as a whole also welcomed me with open arms and made sure I was able to learn from and work with a diverse group of professionals, including lawyers, business analysts, engineers and Environmental Assessment advisors. Overall, I couldn t have asked for a better placement! My time at OPG was an unparalleled learning experience surrounded by a group of committed, inspirational and generous people.
MARGARITA MALKINA My placement with the Maya Leaders Alliance in Belize was so far the most amazing experience of my life. I learned a lot about Maya culture and history, as well as the current legal issues that Maya village communities are facing. The majority of my work with MLA consisted assisting Mr. Alfonso Caal, the president of the Toledo Alcaldes Association, in drafting legal letters to the government and private parties. I also had a opportunity to visit several Maya villages and attend village meetings, a customary forum for decision making for Maya people. The most memorable was my visit to Graham Creek Village, on of the most remote communities in Belize. In order to get there I had to hike 10 miles through beautiful jungle of Central America. In addition, I drafted a boundary harmonization guide, which will be used by communities who are currently involved into boundary disputes with their neighbors. During my placement, I also attended meetings with several parties and organizations, such as Rainforest UK, Native American Resource Partners (NARP), James Anaya, a former UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, and others. Overall, I had an incredible experience working with the MLA and TAA organizations and obtained invaluable skills that I will use in the future. LAURA MAYER Laura worked for the Chippewas of Rama at Mnjikaning under the supervision of Rama General Counsel Jeffery Hewitt. During her placement, Laura worked on community consultation regarding a variety of issues and in her research, explored Anishinabek principles regarding dispute resolution and more generally, the good life : minobimaadiziwin.
THERESA MCGEE My placement was in Toronto with the Chiefs of Ontario (COO), a political secretariat that serves the elected leadership of the 133 First Nations located within the province of Ontario. COO coordinates collective action and advocacy on political and social objectives shared by First Nation communities. During my seven weeks with the Justice Sector at COO, I provided technical and research support to the Chiefs on a range of issues, including the truth-seeking process into the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. My work provided me with unparalleled insight into the First Nations political process, and provided me with the foundation for relationships with Indigenous activists who are addressing some of the most pressing social and political issues of our time. EMILY MEUSER I was placed with the Canadian Environmental Law Association in Toronto, an organization with a long history of important environmental litigation and law reform work. CELA was an absolute hive of activity: with only four lawyers, two articling students, and few support staff, they somehow manage to keep tabs on (and do substantive work on) pretty much every important environmental issue in the province. From my first day at CELA, my supervisors trusted me to engage with complex Aboriginal and environmental law issues. I worked on numerous projects, including looking into funding sources for infrastructure projects on a northern Ontario reserve, researching and writing a draft legal opinion for a First Nation on establishing their own process for approving projects that impact on the environment, helping craft a section 15 Charter argument for a judicial review application on the part of another First Nation, applying for substantial funding to enable the First Nation to pursue that judicial review from the Legal Aid Ontario test cases fund, and researching and helping to write a motion for costs immunity on behalf of the First Nation with respect to the judicial review, which is a novel area of the law. I learned a lot, everyday, about substantive law, as well as the practice of law including interacting with clients, finding the resources to serve meritorious ends, and being mindful of the role of my own preferences and needs in serving clients best interests. This placement was incredibly valuable to me, in at least two respects: it allowed me to contribute in a meaningful way to causes about which I am passionate, and it demonstrated to me that I have, in fact, gained many of the skills that I will require to be a lawyer through my learning process at law school. I am happy to finish my law degree on such a high note: with renewed faith that many people are working toward creating a more just society, and renewed confidence that I will be able to contribute to that essential project.