This unique, non-adversarial moot invites law students from across the country to take part in roundtable negotiations rooted in Indigenous legal orders, alongside Canadian and international law.
Held at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, this year’s factual framework focused on issues related to Indigenous legal orders and water governance around select waterways across Turtle Island.
In preparation, participants drafted detailed position papers and worked on their negotiation skills. While the first day of deliberations revealed the complexity of the issues and diverging positions, the students embraced the consensus-based format to collaboratively seek common ground.
The Kawaskimhon Moot, derived from a Cree word roughly translated to “speaking with knowledge,” has since 1994 offered a space for students—particularly Indigenous students and those passionate about Indigenous law—to deepen their understanding of Indigenous legal systems while forging lasting connections. The moot is hosted annually by a different law faculty and remains a vital part of efforts to decolonize legal education in Canada.
In true form of the Kawaskimhon Moot, the students and coaches had an opportunity to take in the rich culture of the Indigenous peoples who welcomed them to their territory for the competition.