50. In keeping with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal organizations, to fund the establishment of Indigenous law institutes for the development, use, and understanding of Indigenous laws and access to justice in accordance with the unique cultures of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
In a few words: Fund Indigenous law institutes!
Recognize that Canada has more than one legal system! Canada already recognizes both common law and civil law; Canada needs to recognize indigenous law too.
When it comes to funding Indigenous law institutes, this means funding programs such as legal support networks for Indigenous peoples within the court system. Some of these programs allow Indigenous people who have been accused of a crime to receive sentencing in traditional healing circles, rather than in the court.
This also of course means developing our understanding of indigenous law, which is most obviously done within universities. Law schools in Canada need to continue to make greater strides in teaching Indigenous law to their students!
Further Reading:
Native Law, University of Saskatchewan.
Compiled by Jonathan Wearing