b'COVER STORYSuccess Stories in Nation BuildingLeaving the Indian Act and rebuilding new systemsBy Ashley AlbertF rom research, education,Revitalizing Traditional Law worked with over 50 communities to help governance and law-making,The Indigenous Law Research Unitthem share legal traditions. First Nations across Canada are(ILRU) is based at the University of The ILRU understands that a Nation succeeding in Nation Building.Victorias Faculty of Law. Establishedcannot be a Nation without laws. Law is Nation Building for First Nations is thein 2012, the ILRU works in partnershipa distinct mode of governance. steps they are taking to rebuild theirwith First Nations across Canada, institutions to become self-governing andsupporting communities in exploringThe idea is that Indigenous peoples, self-sufficient.questions about their own Indigenousalong with other societies around the The first step in the Nation Buildinglegal traditions.world, had comprehensive systems of process is to understand the laws thatThe ILRU initially started with theways to collaboratively and legitimately can be derived from oral history andAccessing Justice and Reconciliationmanage all aspects of their society. We traditions. From here, First Nations canproject, which was a national projecttreat Indigenous law as law. There is implement a vision for Nation Buildinginitiated by the ILRU, the Indigenousphilosophy, but there are also substantive that fills the gaps created by colonialBar Association, and the Truth andlaws and processes. Indigenous law is structures. This vision will look differentReconciliation Commission. Led bynot an artifact, says Val Napoleon, Law for each First Nation depending on theHadley Friedland and Val Napoleon,Foundation Chair, Aboriginal Justice and direction from its citizens. the project was funded by the LawGovernance at the U of Vs Faculty of Foundation of Ontario, and looked atLaw; and Director of the ILRU. There are numerous reports that discusshow Indigenous people in their legalIt is the hope that the legal principles Nation Building for First Nations.traditions respond to harms and injuries.communities use to govern will inform These include the Royal CommissionThe purpose of the project was tothe kinds of economic decisions that on Aboriginal Peoples, 1996; the Truthapproach and engage Indigenous lawthey make. Community laws will enable and Reconciliation Commissions 94as laws.each community to make better resource Call to Action, 2015; and the ongoingdecisions and be better able to imagine research and information gatheringThe ILRU now focuses on issues suchwhat is possible in the future. by the Institute on Governance.as lands and resources, human rights, Most importantly, First Nations arewater projects, governance and disputeThe ILRU currently has 11 major conducting their own research.resolutions. To date the ILRU hasresearch projects. Each report that A group shot of the Home in the City workshop in Victoria in January 2019.74 The Circle Winter Issue 1 2019'