Seminar Announcement: Indigenous People and the Criminal Justice System

January 9, 2025

Join us on February 8 & 9, 2025, for a transformative seminar at Robson Hall: Indigenous People and the Criminal Justice System. Led by Melissa Serbin and Stacey Soldier, this event focuses on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, offering invaluable insights into Indigenous history, rights, and law. Open to law students, articling students, and lawyers, this seminar equips participants with skills in cultural competency and reconciliation

February 8 & 9, 2025 | Robson Hall, Room 204 | 8 AM – 4 PM

The University of Manitoba Faculty of Law is proud to host a transformative two-day seminar titled Indigenous People and the Criminal Justice System, designed to deepen understanding and foster meaningful action within Canada’s legal community.

This event, led by Melissa Serbin and Stacey Soldier, was inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry. It provides a rare opportunity to engage with the cultural and legal frameworks surrounding Indigenous Peoples in Canada, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to drive reconciliation forward.

Why This Seminar Matters

In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released its final report, which included 94 Calls to Action to effect reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. This seminar is directly aligned with Calls to Action 27 and 28, which focus on the legal community and law schools:

• Call to Action 27 challenges the legal profession to ensure lawyers receive cultural competency training, including the history and legacy of residential schools, Treaties, Indigenous law, and intercultural skills like conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.
• Call to Action 28 asks law schools to require students to take courses that address Indigenous Peoples and the law, covering similar themes while emphasizing the importance of reconciliation in legal education.

Melissa and Stacey have carefully crafted this seminar to address these needs, recognizing the growing importance of Indigenous inclusion and understanding across Canada. Attendees will explore:

• The history and legacy of residential schools.
• The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
• Treaties, Aboriginal rights, and Indigenous-Crown relations.
• Skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, and anti-racism.

Who Should Attend?

This seminar is open to:

• Law students looking to enrich their understanding of Indigenous law and history.
• Articling students preparing to work in culturally diverse environments.
• Lawyers at any stage of their career who want to improve their cultural competency and commitment to reconciliation.

Learners will leave the seminar with the tools to integrate reconciliation into their legal practices and personal lives, embodying the values of justice, equity, and understanding.

Event Details

• Dates: February 8 & 9, 2025
• Time: 8 AM – 4 PM
• Location: Room 204, Robson Hall, 224 Dysart Road, University of Manitoba

Register Now

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in meaningful learning and action. Be part of the change and join us as we explore the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the criminal justice system. Together, we can create a more equitable and inclusive future.

Click here to register

For more information, please contact the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba.

#TruthAndReconciliation #IndigenousJustice #CulturalCompetency #UMFacultyOfLaw

NT4