Western Law to host unique aboriginal law moot
December 10, 2012
In March Western Law will welcome students from 17 law schools across Canada to take part in a unique mooting experience.
The 2013 Kawaskimhon Talking Circle Moot provides law students a forum in which they are challenged to find ways of reconciling indigenous and non-indigenous legal orders and values as they relate to a pressing contemporary issue for Aboriginal peoples.
“Kawaskimhon means ‘speaking with knowledge’, says Western Law professor Michael Coyle, the moot coordinator. “We at Western are excited and honoured to be hosting this Moot because it encourages law students to reflect and apply a knowledge that both includes and respects the contribution of indigenous legal traditions.”
The moot is designed to incorporate Aboriginal values and concepts of dispute resolution. It uses the tradition of the Talking Circle process as a model for building consensus over difficult legal issues.
Western Law would like to thank the firm of Olthuis, Kleer, Townshend LLP for their generous lead sponsorship of this year's Kawaskimhon Moot.
“The Kawiskimhon moot is a signal event in the law school year,” says Bryce Edwards, a partner at Olthuis, Kleer, Townshend LLP. “Many of us at OKT remember our time at the moot fondly and we’re delighted to support it for this year. We’re looking forward to participating.”
The 2013 moot problem will focus on a proposal that legislation be enacted under which individual First Nations would be able to adopt a lands regime that would include fee simple ownership on reserves.
The moot will take place at the Faculty of Law at Western University in London, Ontario from Friday March 1st to Sunday, March 3rd. An opening reception will be held in the Faculty of Law on March 1 at 2 p.m. For more information please visit the moot website.
