Indigenous Legal Issues

Open to: 1L, 2L, 3L

Project Summary

OKT is working with public interest groups across Canada to explore solutions to the Indigenous mass incarceration crisis. Across Canada, Indigenous people are put and kept in prisons and jails at rates which are vastly disproportionate to their population. Despite courts at every level acknowledging this crisis, little has been done to address it. OKT, along with its community partners, are exploring ways to force solutions to this problem. ​​Student volunteers will work alongside OKT lawyers to do legal research related to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, policies of Correctional Services Canada, UNDRIP, and civil procedure to help develop a ‘theory of case’ for tackling the mass incarceration crisis.

Type: Research

Area(s) of Law: Human Rights Law, Criminal Law, Aboriginal Law

Community served: Indigenous peoples, Criminalized populations

Number of Student Volunteer Positions: 2

Commitment: 3-5 hours/week

Special Requirements: ​​Interest and knowledge in human rights law would be an asset​. Indigenous-identifying students will be given priority for this position.

Open to: 1L, 2L, 3L

Project Summary

This is a justice education and mentorship program for First Nations, Mé tis and Inuit youth aged 11-14 where youth work with justice sector volunteers on fun and engaging activities that teach them about the Canadian criminal justice system, while incorporating Indigenous pedagogy including smudging, feasting, Elder teachings, and a focus on restorative justice

The project will involve support for online/remote or in-person justice education sessions for Level’s Indigenous Youth Outreach Program (IYOP).This project will feature two components: 

1. Assisting in the facilitation and delivery of mock trials for youth

The Indigenous Youth Outreach Program runs 6-10 justice education session with Indigenous students in a particular school location. Volunteer students will be involved in relationship-building exercises, identity work, and justice education games and experiences with the program participants

2.  Researching and drafting new mock trial scenarios.

IYOP relies on a mock trial handbook to ensure smooth delivery of sessions. These handbooks contain mock trial scenarios for use by volunteers in the program. During off times (i.e. durations where students are not supporting with mock trials), student volunteers will be expected to conduct legal research for use by the partner organization, pending review and approval by the supervising lawyer.

Type: PLE, Client Services

Area(s) of Law: Indigenous Law, Criminal Law, Human Rights Law. 

Community served: Indigenous, First Nations and Metis, Children & Youth

Number of Student Volunteer Positions: 4-6

Commitment: 1-2 hours/week

Special Requirements: 

• This is a hybrid project, with most workshops being in person. 

• Volunteers are expected to commit 1-2 hours per week over the course of 8 weeks in the fall semester (October – November). In the winter semester volunteers are expected to commit to 1 - 2 hours per week for 12 weeks (January – March). In addition to attending the program sessions, volunteers must complete:

  • • A one-hour introductory training session with Level

    • A one-hour Cultural Humility and Empathy Training session

    • 1 Cultural Humility exercise in each semester the volunteer is active

• Given the nature of clientele served (youth), student volunteers should possess comfort working with youth, and a high degree of humility.

Open to: 1L, 2L, 3L

Project Summary

Students will monitor, research, and write about bills as they proceed through Parliament to identify proposed legislation relevant to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and flag potential substantive equality issues for Indigenous women and Gender-Diverse People. Students will become deeply familiar with legislative processes and some priority legislative frameworks, such as criminal law, corrections, child and family services, environment and impact

assessment, and intellectual property. 

Students will research Indigenous legal orders, procedures, and healing in the context of the relevant proposed legislative changes. Students will prepare legal memos for NWAC’s in-house counsel, Parliamentary Committee Briefs, and communications collaterals, such as articles, blogs, social media posts and public legal education resources to be published on the NWAC website.

Type: Research

Area(s) of Law: Indigenous Law, Human Rights Law, Environmental Law, Intellectual Property Law 

Community served: Indigenous, First Nations and Metis, Children & Youth

Number of Student Volunteer Positions: 2

Commitment: 3-5 hours/week

Special Requirements: 

• This is a virtual project

• Preference will be given to Indigenous women-identifying, gender-diverse, Two Spirit and trans applicants 

• All students with interest and lived experience in the area are encouraged to apply.