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BRIEFS<br />
Rebels with a Cause<br />
LAW STUDENTS BRING HUMAN RIGHTS TALKS TO HIGH SCHOOLS<br />
By Cynthia Nazar<br />
In <strong>the</strong> library <strong>of</strong> a Winnipeg high<br />
school, a group <strong>of</strong> students and<br />
teachers listen to a panel speak<br />
about <strong>the</strong> state <strong>of</strong> Aboriginal<br />
education in Canada. Among <strong>the</strong><br />
panelists is an animated third-year<br />
law student from U <strong>of</strong> M’s <strong>Faculty</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Law</strong>, sharing what he has learned<br />
about residential schools.<br />
Across <strong>the</strong> city, a first-year law<br />
student speaks to a group<br />
<strong>of</strong> newcomers to Canada<br />
about <strong>the</strong> Charter and what it<br />
means to Canadians.<br />
“My students really liked <strong>the</strong> part <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> presentation about how human<br />
rights apply in real-life situations.<br />
They could have probably asked a<br />
zillion questions about that,” says<br />
Heidi Reimer, who teaches English<br />
as an additional language.<br />
In a Grade 10 geography class,<br />
ano<strong>the</strong>r law student shares what<br />
she knows about Aboriginal<br />
hunting rights. Using three<br />
precedent setting cases, she<br />
explains <strong>the</strong> concept <strong>of</strong> Treaty<br />
rights from <strong>the</strong> perspective <strong>of</strong><br />
each stakeholder.<br />
The presenters are volunteer<br />
students from <strong>the</strong> <strong>Faculty</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Law</strong><br />
who are giving <strong>the</strong>ir time and<br />
knowledge to help make <strong>the</strong><br />
law more accessible at <strong>the</strong> high<br />
school level. The university’s<br />
new Centre for Human Rights<br />
Research has been fielding<br />
requests for speakers since it<br />
was established.<br />
It initiated a Speakers Bureau for<br />
<strong>the</strong> 2011-2012 academic year with<br />
assistance from <strong>the</strong> <strong>Faculty</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Law</strong><br />
Endowment Fund. The idea was<br />
to connect volunteer law students<br />
with teachers and <strong>the</strong>ir classes who<br />
want to learn more about how <strong>the</strong><br />
law relates to human rights, <strong>the</strong><br />
Charter and Aboriginal issues.<br />
Third-year law student Brendan<br />
Jowett spoke to Kimberly<br />
McDonald’s Grade 7 class at Seven<br />
Oaks Middle School. “My students<br />
enjoyed <strong>the</strong> presentation and<br />
were engaged during <strong>the</strong> entire<br />
afternoon. It was an excellent<br />
addition to <strong>the</strong> human rights<br />
component <strong>of</strong> our social studies<br />
curriculum,” McDonald commented.<br />
Over <strong>the</strong> past five years, <strong>the</strong><br />
Manitoba government has made<br />
many changes to <strong>the</strong> curriculum,<br />
particularly in <strong>the</strong> social studies<br />
area. Emphasis has been placed<br />
on First Nations, not only <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
culture and contribution to<br />
history, but what it means to be a<br />
First Nations citizen today.<br />
“The issue <strong>of</strong> land claims is so<br />
new to many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> students<br />
and very new in <strong>the</strong> curriculum.<br />
It is great to have someone with<br />
more expertise in <strong>the</strong> area to<br />
help frame it for students,” said<br />
Grade 10 Geography teacher<br />
Candice Behrendt.<br />
“The speaking engagement<br />
was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> best experiences<br />
that I have had in a long time. It<br />
gave me hope about Aboriginal<br />
issues. I feel that <strong>the</strong> students<br />
took a lot from it and gained a<br />
better understanding <strong>of</strong> what is<br />
currently and historically occurring<br />
regarding Aboriginal rights,” said<br />
first-year law student Monica<br />
Shannon. Teachers appreciate that<br />
<strong>the</strong> volunteers avoid “legalese”<br />
and explain concepts in a way<br />
that is not above <strong>the</strong> students’<br />
comprehension level.<br />
continued on page 22<br />
UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA, FACULTY OF LAW robsonhall.ca 20