Actions and Commitments

Call to Action # 28: Justice (25-42)

Université de Montréal Faculty of Law

March 19, 2024

Since its founding in 1878, the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Law has enjoyed a reputation for excellence. It distinguishes itself from other major law schools around the world through a unique combination of intellectual pluralism and cutting-edge scientific research conducted by a faculty and student community in many areas of law, all in a truly diverse cultural environment that contributes to the intellectual development of students.

Faculty of Law Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

No mention of commitment by the Faculty itself. Makes reference to the university’s action plan at large.

Diversité, équité, inclusion et réconciliation – Faculté de droit – Université de Montréal (umontreal.ca)

Call to Action # 28

We call upon law schools in Canada to require all law students to take a course in Aboriginal people and the law, which includes the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and antiracism.

Mandatory Course: Yes (1)

DRT 1011 – First Peoples’ Law

Constitutional and international framework. Dysfunctions. Functioning and challenges of revitalizing indigenous legal systems. Limits of state recognition. History of legal relations between indigenous peoples and the State.

Droit des premiers peuples – Université de Montréal – Admission (umontreal.ca)

Faculty of Law Commitment to Call to Action # 28: 5 out of 5 =100%

1The history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools
Yes. DRT 1011.
2The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Yes. DRT 1011.
3Treaties and Aboriginal rights
Yes. DRT 1011.
4Indigenous law
Yes. DRT 1011.
5Aboriginal–Crown Relations
Yes. DRT 1011.

Land Acknowledgement: 

Found on the Premiers Peuples section of the website***

The Université de Montréal is located where, long before French settlement, various Indigenous peoples interacted with one another. We wish to pay tribute to these aboriginal peoples, to their descendants, and to the spirit of fraternity that presided over the signing in 1701 of the Great Peace of Montreal, a peace treaty founding lasting peaceful relations between France, its Indigenous allies and the Haudenosauni Confederacy (pronounced: O-di-no-sho-ni). The spirit of fraternity behind this treaty is a model for our university community.

NOTE:
All content has been submitted to the respective faculty for validation to ensure accuracy and currency as of the time of posting. Université de Montréal did respond.

Managing Editor: Douglas Sinclair, Publisher, Indigenous Watchdog
Lead Researcher: Julia Dubé