BarTalk February 2003
Volume 15, Number 1

A comprehensive approach to Aboriginal justice

by The Honourable Bryan Williams QC

The current state of relations with Aboriginal peoples is one of the leading human rights, social justice and economic issues facing British Columbia and Canada. During the past 20 years, Aboriginal rights, and title and other issues involving Aboriginal people have become more and more complex and important. I recall, when I was national President of the CBA in 1986, establishing “equal justice for native people” as my top priority. Yet, since that time nowhere near enough has been done in the law schools of our country to provide the range of courses desperately needed by both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students interested in this subject matter.

With this in mind, the University of Victoria Faculty of Law established the Educational Endowment for Aboriginal Justice. The endowment will fund the first Professorship of Aboriginal Justice and Governance in Canada. John Borrows, one of Canada’s leading Aboriginal scholars, has assumed this Professorship which will significantly enhance legal education for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students. The Faculty of Law will admit more Aboriginal students. Aboriginal educational and cultural support programs will be expanded, and there will be new course offerings in Aboriginal law and issues relating to Aboriginal peoples. The Faculty will develop new resources for the legal profession in collaboration with the Law Society, the Continuing Legal Education Society and the judiciary. Law reform initiatives will be launched on matters that require resolution such as treaty negotiations, resource conflicts and economic development.

Both the First Nations Summit and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs strongly support this initiative. When I agreed to help build financial support for the new Aboriginal justice initiative at UVic, I knew that I could also find a very impressive group of British Columbians who would work together to support the program and its ability to promote understanding of Aboriginal issues and improve the lives of Aboriginal people and communities. Among the Endowment’s esteemed patrons are: Thomas Berger, OC, QC; Mel Cooper, CM, OBC; David Foster, OC; John Fraser, PC, OC, OBC, CD, QC; Joe Gosnell, OC, OBC; Rick Hansen, CC, OBC; Michael Harcourt; Mobina Jaffer, GC, QC; Wendy John; Leonard Marchand, PC, CM; and Milton Wong, CM. The Board of Directors includes CBABC Past President Margaret Ostrowski, QC, Louise Mandell, QC, Marvin Storrow, QC and several other leading practitioners in Aboriginal law, as noted in the sidebar.

Our fundraising goal is $1 million. Over the past year, we received a grant of $500,000 from the Law Foundation, a grant of $100,000 from the Notary Foundation and numerous other contributions from private companies, individual donors and banks. We are now asking for the assistance of the legal profession for the last leg of our fundraising campaign.

Legal institutions and the legal profession can play a key role in promoting reconciliation with Aboriginal peoples, and in developing just and sustaining social and economic relationships. I believe that education is the most effective tool at our disposal for promoting positive and enduring change. Any donation you can make will help us achieve our goals in the best interests of all concerned.

To make a tax receiptable contribution, please send a cheque to: University of Victoria, Faculty of Law, PO Box 2400 STN CSC, Victoria, B.C. V8W 3H7. If you would like further information, please call the UVic Law Development Office at 250.721.8025 or e-mail pmaedel@uvic.ca.

Bryan Williams served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia from 1996 to 2000. He is associate counsel with the Vancouver law firm of Miller Thomson.

Aboriginal Endowment Board of Directors
James Aldridge, QC; Frank Borowicz, QC; Blake Bromley; Eric Denhoff; Peter A. Gall; Rodney L. Hayley, Ph.D; Mark Horne; John C. Kerr, OBC; Bonnie Leonard; Louise Mandell, QC; Margaret Ostrowski, QC; Pat Pitsula; Murray Rankin, QC; Marvin R.V. Storrow, QC; Bryan Williams, QC; Terri-Lynn Williams-Davison; and Jack Woodward.

This article was published in the February 2003 issue of BarTalk and is subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2005, all rights reserved.