The Schulich School of Law is proud to host this year鈥檚 Kawaskimhon National Moot for the first time in the law school鈥檚 history.
The moot, taking place March 1鈥�3, is also celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2019. Though it started small at the University of Toronto, it now has participants from nearly every law school in Canada. This year 18 schools are taking part, with 70 students and 27 coaches coming together from across the country.
The Kawaskimhon (Cree for 鈥渟peaking with knowledge鈥�) is unique among moot court competitions in that it鈥檚 a consensus-based, non-adversarial moot incorporating Indigenous legal orders alongside federal, provincial, and international law. This year鈥檚 moot problem is focused on the reform of Canada鈥檚 First Nations Child and Family Services Program.
鈥淭he students are excited about the theme, which is very current,鈥� says Schulich School of Law Professor Naiomi Metallic, Dalhousie鈥檚 Chancellor鈥檚 Chair in Aboriginal Law and Policy. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity for them to dive into this issue.鈥�
Pondering pressing questions
Along with Dana-Lyn MacKenzie, the law school鈥檚 director of Student Services and Engagement, Metallic is coaching Schulich Law鈥檚 team of six second- and third-year students: Maile Graham-Laidlaw, Madison Joe, Erin Minuk, Natasha Schigas, Fabian Suarez-Amaya, and Heather Webster. The organizing team also includes Professors Constance MacIntosh and Sara Seck.
The moot problem requires the teams to consider these two questions: What mechanisms could be put in place to ensure that Canada meets its obligation to provide equitable and culturally appropriate services to First Nations children? What should long-term reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program look like?
The problem is the brainchild of Cindy Blackstock, a Gitxan woman, a social worker, the executive director of the First Nations Child and Caring Society, and a tireless advocate on behalf of First Nations children. 鈥�
It鈥檚 essential that law students have practical experience with live cases that impact First Nations, M茅tis, and Inuit people,鈥� says Blackstock, who received an honorary degree from pilipili漫画 in 2018. 鈥淭hey may be able to help figure out some of the solutions.鈥�
Fresh ideas and perspectives
Blackstock will be bringing Spirit Bear, a white teddy bear she received as a gift from the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council in Prince George, B.C., a decade ago. The bear went with her to Ottawa when the hearings into the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal case on First Nations child welfare were getting underway. 鈥淗e is to remind everyone that the case is about children,鈥� she says.
On the moot鈥檚 second day, Blackstock will spend 30 minutes at each table of students, listening to and helping direct their ideas about child welfare initiatives. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really helpful to have people with fresh ideas and perspectives take a look at the case,鈥� she says. 鈥淢y message to the students will be that you have to practice the law with love. That鈥檚 how you achieve justice.鈥�
Schulich Law second-year student Madison Joe will be sitting at one of those tables. The 28-year-old is from Membertou First Nation, one of five Mi鈥檏maw communities in Cape Breton.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping to widen my knowledge of child welfare, and being in the moot and being able to show my work to Cindy Blackstock gives all of us the perfect opportunity,鈥� says Joe. 鈥淚鈥檓 not just representing Dal, I鈥檓 representing Membertou and Mi鈥檏maki. It鈥檚 amazing to be a part of the moot because it gives me an opportunity to bring a different perspective to the table.鈥�