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New Courses & Program Offerings
SEVERAL INNOVATIVE COURSE OFFERINGS WERE INTRODUCED TO
THE ROBSON HALL CURRICULUM THIS PAST YEAR
ADVOCATING FOR INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE
Taught by Professor Brenda
Gunn, this course looks at
how Indigenous peoples have
engaged in international law to
gain protection of their rights
and interests. Throughout the
course, students are exposed to
various international bodies, both
global and regional, and they
examine the various articulations
and protections of Indigenous
peoples’ rights.
CURRENT PROBLEMS IN
ABORIGINAL LAW: CRIMINAL
JUSTICE AND FAMILY LAW
Current Problems in Aboriginal
Law is a course that offers a
comprehensive overview of the
problems faced by Aboriginal
peoples in the Canadian criminal
justice system and in family law.
Taught by Dr. David Milward,
it addresses a diverse
array of issues, including
intergenerational trauma,
Aboriginal over-incarceration,
restorative justice, policing,
racial profiling, the trial process,
the effective representation of
Aboriginal clients, child welfare
representation, restraining
orders, and matrimonial
property. The course uses the
circle-method of pedagogy to
encourage students to actively
participate in class discussions
on the numerous topics. Law
student Ainsley Wilson enjoyed
the variety of topics introduced
in the course:
“Professor Milward
engaged us in meaningful
discussions that helped us
relate to Aboriginal issues
that may otherwise have
seemed foreign to us, but
that are very relevant to
legal practice in Manitoba. I
enjoyed the variety of media
used and the opportunity
to hear from some very
interesting guest speakers.”
The course explores specific
categories of rights and how
these rights have developed
in international law, and the
mechanisms available to pursue
Indigenous rights claims—both
general human rights mechanisms
and mechanisms that are
specifically focused on Indigenous
peoples issues. Law student
Janine Seymour comments, “The
course provided an opportunity
to explore non-domestic remedies
and alternative avenues to bring
forward Indigenous peoples’ issues.
It really broadened my perspective.”
EDUCATION LAW
Education is a vital means of
socialization, shaping identities and
world views, as well as life chances
and opportunities. This course
provides a critical introduction to
the theories, practices, and the
formal and informal processes
of education. This seminar-style
course, taught by Dr. Donn
Short, assesses youth culture and
examines the key legislation and
policies that govern and regulate
73 ROBSON HALL ALUMNI REPORT