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SPRING GRADUATION - 2005

2013 Legal Studies 
           Connect below to your program

2013 Students *Student Info
 click here
June 2 - 14, 2013
Legal Process - Introduction to Legal Studies - Year I

2012 Students  *
Student Info
 click here
June 2 - 14, 2013
Aboriginal and Constitutional Law - Year II 
 

2013 Research Studies 
*
Student Info
click here
June 2 - 14, 2013 
Social Sciences Research Skills -  Year I
 

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AKITSIRAQ SESSIONS  FOR  JUNE 2013!

LEGAL SKILLS I - An Introduction to Legal Studies

 

Akitsiraq has a very interesting and diverse group enrolled for Year 1, from all three regions as well as Yellowknife and Ottawa. These students will be introduced to legal concepts, case studies, judicial structures and social/political frameworks. The course is the equivalent to the first weeks of a conventional southern law school education, with a Nunavut focus.

This session will be taught by Professor Rebecca Johnson of the University of Victoria, and evaluation is through a final project/presentation.


LEGAL SKILLS II - Aboriginal and Constitutional Law

Returning Akitsiraq students will have an opportunity to learn how Aboriginal Rights and Constitutional Law fit into the legal framework they built in Session I. In Nunavut these issues are part of our daily lives and a better understanding enhances effectiveness as employees, parents and citizens.

Akitsiraq welcomes two professors for Session 2 students: Prof John Borrows from University of Victoria/Minnesota and Prof Dalee Sambo Dorough from the University of Anchorage at Alaska.   Evaluation is based on an UN style presentation. 

 

SOCIAL SCIENCES RESEARCH SKILLS I - Approaches to Research

Darcy Leigh from the University of Edinburgh will be returning to Akitsiraq this year to teach this new course on designing and implementing social sciences research. So often Northerners are the subjects of other people's studies; this course starts building the skills for Nunavummiut to guide their own investigations at the post-secondary level.

This class is small (3 or 4 students) to permit a hands-on process - spending the two weeks learning about research methods and design and then designing and collecting their own research data. Evaluation for this year is based on the research design and data developed by the students.



AANDC SUPPORTS AKITSIRAQ 
2011-12 and 2012-13 

The Programs available through Akitsiraq in 2012 and 2013 are possible because of funding from the ISSP Program of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. This funding supports research, course development and classroom actives of the Akitsiraq Law School Society in encouraging and preparing Nunavummiut for legal studies. 

Akitsiraq's goal is to support Inuit and Nunavut student through their studies and articles and into the legal profession. We think that the most comprehensive and effective way to do this is to have an Akitsiraq cohort earn law degrees in Nunavut BUT until such time as the funding is found for that program the Society will 

         encourage and support legal studies for Inuit and Nunavummiut anywhere in Canada;
                 encourage the development of post-secondary opportunities for Nunavummiut 
                          in ALL the professions, in Nunavut,
in a culturally appropriate context;

Each year we receive  funding from AANDC to advance these goals, and to provide for research , course development and classroom learning. We are very appreciative of the support received.

These funds permit us to support and bridge students to find ways into legal studies and the legal profession, and to generally advocate for Nunavut and Inuit post-secondary students.

OLD NEWS BUT
GOOD NEWS !!

In November 2010 the Akitsiraq  Law School Society was given funding from an Iqaluit group which asked not to be named. We are very grateful for this funding and for the vote of confidence it demonstrates in the Akitsiraq II dream. It is designed to permit:
  • the office, website, telephones, and connections to our potential students to continue, supporting our work towards a full time Akitsiraq II Law Program;
  • the opportunity to continue to raise funds from the GN and especially from other sources;
  • the resources to conduct a number of profile projects advancing the idea of Akitsiraq, and of legal and professional training in Nunavut.
You know who you are, and we thank you sincerely.


PROGRAM NEWS

NEW ADMISSIONS  - June 2-14, 2013 
LEGAL SKILLS II - UNDER WAY

The Society has worked to implement the two week Akitsiraq Legal Skills program, to be held in Iqaluit as part of the June 2013  term. This program is designed to introduce students to legal studies with a program very similar to the introductory course a law student would experience in a Canadian Law school.

PRE-REQUISIT  - Akitsiraq 2012 - for Returning Students 
INDIGENOUS RIGHTS I - UNDER WAY

Our 2012 students are invited back for a follow-up program in June 2013. This program is designed to introduce students to aboriginal rights, the Canadian Constitution and Land Claims Agreements,legal studies with a program very similar to the introductory course a law student would experience in a Canadian Law school.

Visiting U of O Students - January 2013
CML4114 - another great year -

This program focused on the skills for understanding and working in the social, legal and political environment in Nunavut, the NWT and Yukon including the legal status of territorial governments and the impacts o
f Land Claims Agreements. The first two weeks were held in Ottawa and the final week will be in Iqaluit Nunavut, providing challenging opportunities to learn about the legal structures underlying Canada's Northern governments.

Check out their video 

          video and edit credit:  Stephanie MacIntosh UOttawa 2013


AKITSIRAQ II  - the LONG TERM GOAL

This is the plan for an eventual second Akitsiraq LLB cohort:

The four-year Akitsiraq II Law Program leads to a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B./JD) degree from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. The program would take place in Iqaluit, Nunavut using resources offered by the University of Ottawa and Nunavut Arctic College. Students would also have the opportunity to spend periods of study at the University of Ottawa. Graduates would be eligible to enter a relevant bar admission program and, if successful, be called to the bar of a common law province or territory.


The program is designed with the goal of generating a new cohort of lawyers who will contribute to an enhancement of Inuit values in law in Nunavut. Students will receive a comprehensive education in Canadian common law as well as grounding in Inuit law and language. They will gain the ability to operate effectively in legal systems in Nunavut and across Canada.

The society continues to work with the Faculty of Law to seek public and private resources to core fund this v program.

 
FUNDING NEWS

Working to make our long-term plans a reality:
 
On May 31, 2010 Nunavut Justice Minister Peterson advised the Society that the GN would not be funding the full core cost of $5.1M for the Akitsiraq II Law Program.
 
The Akitsiraq Board wrote and asked to meet with the Minsiter prior to June 10 to review other funding options and approaches. This exchange can be see on the Documents page on this site.

Minister Peterson has never responded to that request and there has been no meeting, despite regular requests.
 
The University of Ottawa Law Faculty re-confirmed its commitment to the program, saying  " ..we continue in our unconditional support for the Akitsiraq partnership...."

The Akitsiraq Board acknowledged that GN funding had been key to its plans for a September 2010 start date, which must now be deferred until core funding can be secured.