Aboriginal Elders' Student Supports

The Aboriginal Elders' Program

The Law Society offers an Aboriginal Elders' Program, an innovative, one-of-a-kind program that provides Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students in the Licensing Process, and Aboriginal members of the profession with various teachings and culturally-appropriate counselling services. The aim of the program is to foster a supportive and welcoming environment in line with the Law Society's goal to promote equity and diversity within the legal profession by improving awareness of the issues, needs and concerns of Aboriginal and equity-seeking groups.

The program is led by an elder, who along with various visiting elders provides a variety of programming including opening prayers, cleansing ceremonies, traditional teachings, talking circles, meditations and pipe ceremonies, and is also available for one-on-one time with students in need of assistance.

The program also provides Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students opportunities to meet with, and to develop relationships with Law Society staff, and with other Aboriginal members of the profession.

For more information on this program, including when the program is offered, please contact the Aboriginal Initiatives Counsel, through the Resource Centre at (416) 947-3315 or 1-800-668-7380 ext. 3315 or by e-mail.

Law Society Aboriginal Initiatives Counsel

As part of the Law Society's efforts to promote equity and diversity in the profession, and to ensure that the needs of equity-seeking groups are identified and met, the Law Society created an Aboriginal Initiatives Counsel position in the Equity Initiatives department in 2000.

The Aboriginal Initiatives Counsel is responsible for programming and policy relating to Aboriginal Peoples. Her role is to: raise awareness of Aboriginal issues in the legal profession, in law schools, and in the broader Ontario community; to support Aboriginal Peoples in law; and to further develop a positive and respectful relationship between the Law Society and Aboriginal Peoples.

• Student Support Services
• Equity Public Education Series
• National Aboriginal Day 2005 webcast
• National Aboriginal Day 2006 webcast
• Louis Riel Day 2006 webcast

For further information, contact the Equity Initiatives Department through the Resource Centre at (416) 947-3315 or 1-800-668-7380 ext. 3315 or by e-mail.