Department of Justice

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA SUPPORTS LAW SCHOOL IN NUNAVUT

OTTAWA, September 12 , 2000 - The Government of Canada is providing $100,000 to help establish a law school in the new territory of Nunavut. The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced the funding today at a formal signing of the agreement between the Department of Justice and the Akitsiraq Law School Society in Nunavut.

The Akitsiraq Law School Society has formed a partnership with the University of Victoria to develop the fully accredited law school program in Canada's Arctic. The program, the first in Canada primarily for Inuit students, is scheduled to open in September 2001.

"The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Nunavut in its evolution towards self-sufficiency. Nunavut-trained lawyers will make a valuable contribution to the territory's growth and development. I am pleased to support this innovative project," said Minister McLellan.

Currently, there is only one Inuk lawyer in Nunavut - Premier Paul Okalik. Premier Okalik is Honourary Chair of the Akitsiraq Law School Society.

"A Nunavut-based law school will go a long way to encouraging Nunavummiut to enter into the challenging field of law. Lawyers are in a strong position to shape the justice system and the territory as a whole," said Premier Okalik.

"The Akitsiraq Law School Society was founded to provide the opportunity for northern voices to be heard as part of the overall approach to legal education. With Nunavut, there is a possibility for genuine, exciting involvement in setting the course for our own education and future," said Akitsiraq President Siobhan Arnatsiaq-Murphy.

Assisting the people of Nunavut to obtain culturally appropriate post-secondary education is an important part of the Government of Canada's strategy to help increase and maintain Inuit employment at representative levels, in accord with the 1993 Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

"This new school will teach traditional legal skills while taking into account the unique cultural background of the people of Nunavut. As Nunavut develops as a territory, Nunavut-trained lawyers will play an important role in the justice system and in developing policy generally," said M.P. Nancy Karetak-Lindell.

"This law school offers a chance for Inuit students to get a top-rate legal education without leaving their families and way of life behind them," said Jamie Cassels, Dean of Law at University of Victoria.

The Government of Canada funding, which complements assistance provided by the Departments of Justice and Human Resources in Nunavut, is in keeping with the federal commitment to a renewed relationship with Aboriginal people, as outlined in Gathering Strength, Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan.

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Ref:

Farah Mohamed
Director of Communications
Minister's Office
Department of Justice of Canada
(613) 992-4621

Mireille Provost
Programs Analyst
Department of Justice of Canada
(613) 957-3706

Siobhan Arnatsiaq-Murphy
Chair
Akitsiraq Law School Society
(867) 975-6174

Jamie Cassels
Dean of Law
University of Victoria
(250) 721-8150