Indigenous Law
We acknowledge and respect the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day. This deep respect for Indigenous lands guides our leadership in Indigenous law, environmental law and public policy.
We prepare you to navigate the evolving field of Indigenous law, helping you enter the workforce with cultural awareness and an understanding of diverse legal traditions in Canada.
Working with Indigenous law
Canada is increasingly recognizing its multi-juridical nature. Our work supports respectful, practical ways to engage with Indigenous legal traditions to address current issues in Indigenous communities.
Indigenous laws, like all legal systems, shape citizenship, governance, conflict resolution and relationships.
Studying Indigenous laws offers a rich and principled framework for addressing legal issues, equipping students, professionals and community members with practical tools to solve problems and engage meaningfully in a multi-juridical society.
The calls directly on Canada’s legal community and institutions to learn and use Indigenous law:
- law societies and law schools are asked to teach it (Calls to Action 27 and 28)
- governments are asked to recognize and implement Indigenous justice systems (Call 42)
- governments are asked to support Indigenous law institutes that develop, use and share these laws (Call 50)
Answering these Calls makes the study of Indigenous law not only important—but necessary.
Opportunities
Field school & land-based learning
In your third and fourth years, spend a term working with Indigenous communities, learning from local experts, seeing Indigenous law in practice, and supporting legal projects.
Under close academic supervision, you will:
- learn from community-based experts on a particular Indigenous people’s legal order
- observe the ways in which Indigenous legal processes are being employed today
- work with the community on law-related projects
The study will be sufficient to acquire an understanding of the institutions, sources of law, forms of reasoning, principles and procedures particular to that Indigenous people’s law.
Explore our 2 Indigenous Field Study courses: Law 350I and Law 450I.
Other field school and land-based learning activities are also offered outside the JD/JID program.
Indigenous Perspectives Camp
A UVic Law tradition since 1996, this event invites Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to learn about the values and traditions of Vancouver Island First Nations. You'll spend a weekend with a local First Nations community at the start of the school year.
Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal Moot
In Cree, "Kawaskimhon" means speaking with knowledge about what is right. Each year, UVic Law students join this national, non-adversarial moot that reflects Indigenous values and approaches to resolving disputes.
Indigenous Law Students Association (ILSA)
ILSA members organize social events, arrange guest speakers and support each other. Contact us at ilsa1@uvic.ca.
Indigenous Law Research Unit (ILRU)
ILRU is a research institute focused on revitalizing Indigenous law and governance. It works toward a future where Indigenous laws are actively used, studied and taught like other major legal traditions.
Environmental Law Centre (ELC)
The ELC provides free legal assistance across B.C., promoting environmental law reform and educating the public on environmental issues. For example, the ELC supports Indigenous-led approaches to watershed governance, Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and other ecological responsibilities. About 40 per cent of ELC clients are First Nations individuals or organizations.
Leading scholars & research
Several leading experts in Indigenous Law have chosen UVic as their home for groundbreaking research. Our faculty’s work is rooted in history and culture, focusing on governance, power and community.