Truth and reconciliation
TRU Faculty of Law
Indigenization at the Faculty of Law
TRU Law is situated on the traditional territory of the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc, and that location shapes how we approach legal education. TRU and reconciliation is not treated as a standalone topic at TRU Law – it is woven throughout the curriculum, the student experience and the institution.
Truth and Rebuilding Canadian Indigenous Legal Relations (TRC)
All second-year students are required to complete the Truth and Rebuilding Canadian Indigenous Legal Relations course. The course addresses the substantive elements of TRC Call to Action #28, with a focus on Indigenous laws, Crown-Aboriginal relations, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, and the history and legacy of residential schools. Land-based learning is a central experiential element of the course. Students also develop skill-based training in intercultural competence, anti-racism, human rights, and conflict-resolution, and engage with Canada’s international obligations including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Elective courses
First Nations Governance and Economic Development
Taught by Professor Murray Sholty, a member of the Hagwilget First Nations with extensive consulting experience in this area, this course explores the evolution of diverse systems rooted in pre-contact traditions. Students examine the revolutionary developments in First Nations economies and the legal relationships among First Nations, industry, and governments.
First Nations Business and Taxation
Also taught by Professor Murray Sholty, this course provides an overview of First Nations business enterprises both on and off reserve, including taxation implications and strategy. Particular attention is paid to the unique aspects of First Nations business culture, and the course is designed to prepare students for practice in areas involving commercial dealings with First Nations and other stakeholders.
Comparative and International Indigenous Rights
This course comparatively examines the legal relationships between Indigenous peoples and the nation-states of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Students explore topics including Aboriginal title, Indigenous jurisdiction, treaty-making, and the history of colonization across these jurisdictions. The course includes a live video conference component with partner law schools in the United States and Australia.
Cknúcwentn First Nations Court
Cknúcwentn First Nations Court is a sentencing court that sits monthly at the Kamloops Law Courts. It takes a restorative justice approach to sentencing, with the involvement of the Cknúcwentn Elders Council, and is open to all those who claim Aboriginal ancestry as well as the general public. Each winter semester, the Indigenous Law Students Association coordinates a visit for interested TRU Law students. Students observe the court in session and learn how this process integrates Indigenous ways of knowing and being into the legal framework of sentencing.
Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal Moot
The Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal Moot is a non-competitive moot conducted in a circle arrangement, reflecting Indigenous processes of consensus-building and dialogue. Students engage with contemporary issues in Aboriginal-government relations and develop advocacy and consensus-building skills in a format unlike any other moot in the program.
Indigenous Law Students Association (ILSA)
The Indigenous Law Students Association is an active student group that organizes events and activities throughout the year focused on Indigenous legal issues and community. ILSA hosts panel discussions on current Indigenous legal matters, participates in events such as Orange Shirt Day, and creates space for Indigenous students and allies to connect and engage with Indigenous perspectives in the law.
Student Support
Chrystie Stewart serves as mentor, support person, and advocate for Indigenous law students at TRU Law, keeping in touch with students throughout the year and advising the faculty on student support and curriculum. Students are also supported through TRU’s Indigenous Centre, Cplul'kw'ten (The Gathering Place), which provides workshops, elder support, and a space for study and community.
