12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Overcoming Barriers in the Profession Series Panel 1: Indigenous Lawyers

This first panel in a three-part series on EDI barriers will focus on a discussion among Indigenous lawyers who will share their lived experiences,  the barriers they have faced and continue to face, the gaps within society that are present, and the solutions  and the  supports needed.  There will be discussion of generational trauma, systemic disadvantage, and Reconciliation. This panel will go beyond talking about individual barriers and strategies to navigate on an individual level to also talk about systemic barriers and changes needed to be made by firms/law societies.

Key topics covered will be:

• Barriers faced by Indigenous lawyers to enter the legal profession;
• Generational trauma and its impact on being a lawyer and practicing law;
• Harassment, discrimination, microaggressions faced; 
• How the legal profession participates in and contributes to Reconciliation; 
• Systemic changes needed and individual strategies

This moderated panel discussion will be followed by audience Q&A if time permits.

Speakers

Myrna McCallum, Métis lawyer from Green Lake in Treaty Six territory and the host of "The Trauma-Informed Lawyer" Podcast
Andrea Menard LLB, LLM (DR), President, Indigenous Connect; Lead Educational Developer, Indigenizing Curricula & Pedagogies, University of Alberta; Sessional Instructor, "Reconciliation & Lawyers", University of Calgary, Faculty of Law; Sessional Instructor, "In Search of Reconciliation Through Dispute Resolution",  Osgoode Hall Law School
Dr. Signa Daum Shanks, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
Racquel Fraser, Partner, Fox Fraser Law

Moderator

Tuma Young, K.C.