“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” – J. Dewey
I started working with Aboriginal Legal Services in 2014, moving from private practice in Kenora to Toronto, ON and for the first time experienced, what it was like to work in a non-profit, community-centered legal environment. Notwithstanding the most obvious differences, the most impactful change for me was the ability to engage in public legal education at all levels of post-secondary education. I have been lucky enough to guest lecture for colleges, universities and graduate schools across the province, and the increased use of Zoom and other platforms has even allowed me to speak in other countries as far away as New Zealand.
If the students and the professor enjoy the lecture, ALS lawyers are often invited back as new students enroll each year.
Such has been the case at the University Of Western Ontario Faculty Of Law, where I have had the privilege of being invited to speak by Assistant Dean Sunil Gurmukh and Assistant Professor Ryan Liss over the last two years. One of the classes focuses on policing and the other is a first year introductory course.
As a result, this fall I was able to provide Professor Gurmukh’s students with insight into the dysfunction and systemic discrimination exercised by the Thunder Bay Police Service toward Indigenous people and the importance of transparent and accountable police oversight. While more recently this month, I spoke to Professor Liss’ first year criminal law class that read R. v. Gladue, R. v. Ipeelee and R. v. Barton in preparation for my visit. In both classes, students demonstrated engagement and insight asking questions that showed they read and understood the assigned material and the impact of colonialism and modern day racism against Indigenous communities.
At the end of question and discussion time for the lecture, it never fails to sadden me that as curious as the students are, there is a significant lack of background knowledge held by young people as it relates to the history of Canada and its relationship with Indigenous nations. So much more work needs to be done by the government to formally educate young people in school and to encourage general public knowledge about the marked effects of history that define the work we do at Aboriginal Legal Services. It is an integral reminder that in many ways, the work we do outside of our Indigenous communities is just as valuable as the work we do amongst our people. After all, who better to teach Indigenous experience, history, resilience and strength than ourselves?
Cailtyn Kasper
Senior Lawyer