Introduction to

Indigenous
Peoples and
Indigenous Legal
Traditions in
Canada
Episode 1
Prepared by Professor Lindsay Borrows in
collaboration with Professor Sharry Aiken
for the GDipICL
“We Are Still Here”, 2021, Blake Angeconeb, Anishinaabe artist
 Key Message
Indigenous peoples have
lived as lawful societies
throughout what is now-
called Canada for thousands
of years. Each Indigenous
Nation has their own unique
laws around citizenship, and
systems that define their
territorial borders and how
movement should occur
within and at their borders.

“The Wisdom of the Universe”, 2014, by Christi Belcourt, Métis artist

Introduction to Indigenous peoples in Canada
First Nation, Métis, & Inuit
Queen’s University
is located on the
territories of the
Haudenosanee
and Anishinaabe
Nations
Anishinaabe Language and Law
Foundations of Anishinaabe
Immigration Law:
Creation Story
Humans are the most recent immigrants to come to
Turtle Island (North America). Other living beings such
as plants, insects, water, rocks, fungi, and many other
animals were here first.
Anishinaabe Immigration Law: Recent
Migrations
Anishinaabe
Citizenship Law
Dodem/clan system

Kincentric ecology—more-than-humans are

also members of the community

Adoptions

Marriage

Agreements at Nation, Community, Doodem

and Family levels
 Some Resources for
Engaging with Indigenous
Laws

• Elders, families, clans and societies

• Songs
• Ceremonies
• Dreams
• Dances
• Art
• Land/Nature
• Language
• Witness testimony, trial transcripts from Court cases
• People’s personal memories and direct experiences (Interviews)
• Published anthropological and historical research
• Maps
• Artifacts
• Narratives
 Key Message
Indigenous peoples have lived as
lawful societies throughout what
is now-called Canada for
thousands of years. Each
Indigenous Nation has their own
unique laws around citizenship,
and systems that define their
territorial borders and how
movement should occur within
and at their borders.

“The Wisdom of the Universe”, 2014, by Christi Belcourt, Métis artist

 Invitation for
further
learning
RAVEN Trust (Free) Course:
“Home On Native Land”
“A self-guided, lighthearted but
super-serious course on
Indigenous justice in Canada”

10 videos with Anishinaabe

comedian Ryan McMahon and
leading Indigenous law scholars

http://raventrust.com/home-on-native-land/
Up next in
episode 2…
Indigenous peoples’ cultures,
languages, ceremonies, laws (etc.)
have been weakened due to
Canada’s colonial agenda.
Fortunately not all was lost, and
they are currently in an era of
vibrant revitalization.