Some of you may have been wondering what the FNLSA does exactly.
Traditionally, the FNLSA functions as a social, academic and moral support
structure for First Nations students attending law school at UBC.Native
law students share a different sensibility about the legal institution
from non-native law students, not a negative one, but rather a sense of
alienation from the institution. This stems in part from the
negative role education in general has served in the past to culturally
"assimilate" native people.
As well the perspective with which "the law" represents (our
traditional laws are not recognized or taught in law school). For
instance, a fundamental principle of property law is that all land belongs
to the crown. As a First Nations person it is impossible to accept
this as truth, as the original people of Canada, we did not relinquish all
of our land to the crown. "The Law" is full of these types of principles,
which we must all come to terms with while at law school.
We realize education is of primary importance if native people are to
be prepared to take their rightful role in society, but at the same time
we know that our culture and tradition must not be sacrificed in the
process. The mutual support structure that the FNLSA forms gives
each individual member the strength to persevere and a sense of solidarity
in purpose.
One of the primary mandates of the club is to raise awareness of native
legal issues. Internally, the club circulates judgments pertaining
to native rights as soon as they are available, the most notable case this
year being the Gitzan decision. Guest speakers on native self
government, economic independence, and fishing rights were arranged
through-out the year by the club and its various members. We are
happy to say, all of the speaker events were very well attended by
faculty, students and people outside the lawschool. As well, the
club decided this year to open its membership to non-native students.
This step was taken in recognition that other students may have a strong
interest in native law issues.
On the more social side. The club held a "Welcome Bar-b-Que" for
the first year students, various members sponsored pot-lucks in their
homes through-out the year, and we designed and sold T-Shirts at our
:Beer-Up" and at noon.
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Back Row L to R: Patrick Michell, Bernard Kerrigan, Darren Winegarden,
Alixe Cormick, Leona Sparrow, Keith Kerrigan
Front Row L to R: Shannon Hill, Joan Crowe, Jennie Jack, Carol Hawes, &
Audrey Lundquist |
