Indigenous Initiatives at Western Law
Western Law is committed to decolonization, which includes integrating Indigenous perspectives in our programming, strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities and advancing reconciliation.
Our Indigenous initiatives are guided by Western University’s EDIDA Strategic Plan: Advancing Inclusive Excellence, Western Law’s Strategic Plan 2024-2029, the final reports of Western Law’s Anti-Racism Working Group and the President’s Anti-Racism Working Group, Western University’s Indigenous Strategic Plan, and Call to Action #28 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Collaboration with Western University’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives is a cornerstone of our work to advance decolonization.
Admissions and Financial Aid
Indigenous initiatives include:
- A special admissions category for Indigenous applicants
- Financial aid opportunities for Indigenous students, including awards, scholarships and bursaries. Financial assistance for Indigenous students is also available through federal programs, including the Legal Studies for Indigenous People Program for Métis and Non-Status First Nations students and the Post-Secondary Student Support Program of Indigenous Services Canada for eligible First Nations and Inuit students.
- A complimentary LSAT preparation course for Indigenous students.
- Subsidies to help cover the cost of the University of Saskatchewan’s Indigenous Law Centre Summer Program. The programs offers a first-year Property Law course from May through July for incoming Indigenous 1L students. Western Law provides credit for successful completion of the program.
Teaching and Learning
Since the 2020-21 academic year, every second-year student must take Indigenous Peoples and the Law. It includes all five components of Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) Call to Action #28:
- The history of Aboriginal Peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools
- The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Treaties and Aboriginal rights
- Indigenous law, and
- Aboriginal–Crown relations.
Indigenous content and perspectives, including relating to components (1) to (5) of TRC Call to Action #28, are also integrated into a wide variety of other courses, including mandatory 1L courses and upper-year electives. For example, in 1L Constitutional Law, students learn about the duty to consult Indigenous Peoples. Topics involving Indigenous communities are explored in numerous upper-year courses, such as Environmental Law, Mining Law and Sustainability, and Sentencing.
Western Law received a grade of 5/5 from Indigenous Watchdog on our implementation of TRC Call to Action #28.
We provide also provide our 1L students with an introduction to cultural competence, which includes tips and advice for working with Indigenous clients.
Research
From the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to the nature of treaty partnership in the 21st century, two faculty members are leading research that supports decolonization.
Professor Jeff Warnock, a member of Métis Nation of Ontario, conducts research into the implementation of UNDRIP, the notion of Free, Prior and Informed Consent, and the interaction of these principles with Indigenous legal traditions.
Professor Michael Coyle conducts research into Indigenous dispute resolution theory, the implementation of treaties, and the revitalization of Indigenous legal orders in Canada.
Other Initiatives and Student Experiences
Western Law enters teams in the Kawaskimhon Talking Circle and offers participating students academic credit. The Kawaskimhon Talking Circle is a national event held annually among Canadian law schools. Unlike appellate advocacy competitions, the Kawaskimhon combines advocacy with a collaborative negotiation-style process that draws from Indigenous traditions of dialogue as well as federal, provincial and international law.
As part of the Western Law Internship Program, Western Law supports Debwewin summer law internships in partnership with the Ministry of Attorney General’s Indigenous Justice Division. These summer interns provide legal education and assistance to Indigenous communities and community organizations in Ontario.
Our students lead the Level Justice’s Indigenous Youth Outreach Program at Chippewas of the Thames. Our students provide programming to Indigenous youth to increase their knowledge about the justice system. The program also enhances the cultural understanding of participating law students. On April 1, 2025, we hosted a tour and panel for Indigenous youth from the Chippewas of the Thames, a collaboration between Western Law, Level Justice’s Indigenous Youth Outreach Program and the Indigenous Students’ Organization (Western Law Chapter).
The Student Legal Society has clubs that focus on Indigenous Peoples and initiatives. These clubs provide peer support and organize events geared at raising awareness about the experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and advancing reconciliation.
