28: A Call to Action

ABOUT In this episode the staff and volunteers of the Giiwedin Anang Council at Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS) tell us about one place Indigenous Law isn’t just surviving, it’s thriving (and spoiler, it’s INSIDE the colonial justice system) and UT Law alum Leslie Anne St. Amour responds to some of the Sh*t Law Students Say.Listeners can support ALS’ work and get a tax receipt by donating via Canada Helps here. DEDICATIONThis second episode of 28 is dedicated to the victims of the genocide perpetrated against Indigenous communities by the churches and Governments of Canada, and especially to all the children who were taken away to residential schools and never made it home. Our hearts and prayers are with all those whose wounds have been, or will soon be, torn open by the finding of unmarked graves on the sites of former residential schools. GET HELP This podcast deals with a lot of difficult topics. Here are some resources for @UTLaw Students: URGENT Emergency Services: 911 UofT Community Safety Office: 416-978-1485 NOT URGENT Email : [email protected] or  [email protected] Mental Health Counseling: Book an appointment with the law school’s mental health counselor by calling 416-978-8030 (select 5) and identifying yourself as a law studentAFTER HOURSMy Student Support Program https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc/myssp 24/7 1-844-451-9700 Good to Talk (student distress line): 1-866-925-5454 Toronto Distress Centre: 416-408-HELP (4357) Gerstein Centre: 416-929-5200   For folks outside our community, please find your local resources. GET OUTSIDE For episode 2, we encourage listeners in the GTA to check out the park and (when it reopens) the conservatory at Allan Gardens. This beautiful park is bordered by many Indigenous organizations including Miziwe Biik, the Native Women’s Resource Centre and Anishnawbe Health. For our law student listeners, the Ontario Court of Justice’s 311 Jarvis location is a stone’s throw away. If you are able to walk a few kilometers (or jump on the Gerrard streetcar), head east on Gerrard to 1294 (just past Greenwood) and grab a delicious bison burger, a pickerel dinner or a Navajo taco at Tea N Bannock. FURTHER READING ON INDIGENOUS LAW - link coming soon!MIIGWETCH/NIA:WEN/MARSEE We are grateful to our episode 2 guests: Grandmother Dorothy Peters, Knowledge Keeper Clay Shirt, John Brown and Isabelle Brown.Also to Jordan Jamieson, Tyrell King, Mark Green and Cathie Jamieson for Biindegen and to the ILSA students and alumni who contributed to this episode: Tomas Jirosek, Conlin Delbaere-Sawchuk, Daniel Diamond, Leslie-Anne St. Amour and Editor/Producer Flint Patterson. Thanks also to our settler allies Morgan Torstensen and Bernard Carling for feigning the voice of ignorance for educational purposes. Finally miigwetch to the late Jay Bell Redbird for his painting, A Meeting Place for All Our Relations, and to Adam Kouri for assistance with the artwork for 28.  

ABOUTIn this episode we ask former Senator Sinclair why all law students need education on Indigenous and Aboriginal law, why he went to law school, about his former colleague, retired Senator Lynn Beyak, and much more. Dr. Lorna Fadden deals with the myth that "Indigenous people LOVE working on reconciliation for free" and Leslie Anne St. Amour responds to some of the Sh*t Law Students Say. GET HELPThis podcast deals with a lot of difficult topics. Here are some resources for @UTLaw Students:URGENTEmergency Services: 911UofT Community Safety Office: 416-978-1485 NOT URGENTManager, Indigenous Initiatives: Amanda Carling  [email protected], Student Mental Health & Wellness: Law Students can access resources and connect to supports by contacting, Terry Gardiner [email protected] Health Counseling: Book an appointment with the law school’s mental health counselor Charlie Williams by calling 416-978-8030 (select 5) and identifying yourself as a law studentAFTER HOURSMy Student Support Program https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc/myssp24/7 1-844-451-9700Good to Talk (student distress line): 1-866-925-5454Toronto Distress Centre: 416-408-HELP (4357)Gerstein Centre: 416-929-5200 For folks outside our community, please find your local resources. GET OUTSIDEBeing on the land is an important part of learning in many Indigenous communities. For each episode of 28, we will encourage a walk and a place you can sit and listen. For episode 1, we encourage listeners in the GTA to stroll the boardwalk between Woodbine and Balmy Beach in the east end of TO. You can end your walk at the Silver Birch Dog Park and make a few new friends. The ice and snow are gone and, fingers crossed, the 2021 Winter Stations will be constructed soon! For folks who can't or don't want to walk, there are great benches all along the boardwalk. When the weather warms up a bit, we LOVE sitting in front of the RC Harris Water Treatment Plant.DEDICATIONThis first episode of 28 is dedicated to Meruba Sivaselvachandran. Meruba was a second year law student in the combined J.D./M.B.A. program at the University of Toronto and worked tirelessly to fight for equality and justice for everyone. Read more about her legacy and contribute to the causes she cared about here: https://ca.gofundme.com/f/help-continue-merubas-legacyMIIGWETCH/NIA:WEN/MARSEEWe are grateful to our episode 1 guests, Justice Murray Sinclair and Doctor Lorna Fadden, toJordan Jamieson, Tyrell King, Mark Green and Cathie Jamieson for Biindegen and to the ILSA students and alumni who contributed to this episode: Tomas Jirosek, River Sommerhalder, Conlin Delbaere-Sawchuk, Daniel Diamond, Leslie-Anne St. Amour and Editor/Producer Flint Patterson. Thanks also to our settler allies Morgan Torstensen and Bernard Carling for feigning the voice of ignorance for educational purposes. Finally miigwetch to the late Jay Bell Redbird for his painting, A Meeting Place for All Our Relations, and to Adam Kouri for assistance with the artwork for 28.