Discover the unique experience of the learners of the Certificate in Indigenous Law during the intensive course on Indigenous and State Law at the traditional Innu site of Kanapeut, north of Pessamit, in Québec. This video, featuring Elder Grégoire Canapé, Eric Kanapé and learners Steve Launière and Jeannette Martin, was produced by Florence Robert and Simon Beaumier as part of the Wapanakew project.
From August 12 to 15, 2024, the third cohort of the Certificate in Indigenous Law had the honour of being hosted by the Kanapé family at the traditional Innu site of Kanapeut, north of Pessamit. This capsule offers a vibrant glimpse of the immersive experience the learners had on the land.
This experience on the Innu land enabled participants to explore and experience Innu aitun teachings linked to oral tradition, under the invaluable guidance of the Innu Nation’s Elders and bearers of traditional knowledge, Grégoire and Michael Canapé, originally from Pessamit.
“The part we miss is being on the territory like this, disconnecting from our reality, coming to the land and feeling everything,” says learner Jeannette Martin.
This territory-based intensive course, designed by Professor Eva Ottawa with the support of Elders and coordinated by Karla Matias, enabled learners to explore the various sources of indigenous legal orders: sacred law, natural law, deliberative law, customary law and positive law. Evenings were devoted to stories, tales, legends and ceremonies.
This intensive course is part of the Certificate in Indigenous Law, which emphasizes a pedagogy deeply rooted in indigenous traditions. This approach encourages learning by doing, observation of daily life in the forest, oral tradition and the transmission of knowledge to the land.
To find out more about the Indigenous Law Certificate program and its many initiatives, visit the program page (in French only).
