“Coyote, the Cannibal Boy and the Corporation” – Exploring the Place of Indigenous Laws in the Contemporary Economy

Speaker: Professor Rebecca Johnson, Associate Director of the Indigenous Law Research Unit at the University of Victoria, Canada

In the past decade, Canadian discussions about the status of Indigenous Legal Orders have shifted from questions such as “What does Indigenous law look like?” to questions such as “ How are different Indigenous legal orders to be recognized, implemented and enforced?” These questions have generated a rich body of literature and practice, drawing Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars and practitioners together, producing new collaborative work in legal theory, method, pedagogy and practice. One example of Indigenous law operating collaboratively in the contemporary world can be seen in work being done by the Secwépemc (Shuswap) People. Working with one Secwepemc legal resource ( the story “Coyote and the Cannibal Boy”), we can see how law is drawn up from such legal resources, and how the Secwepemc are using their law to restructure their ongoing economic partnerships with corporate partners in the forestry industry.

About the speaker

Rebecca Johnson is a Professor of Law at the University of Victoria, as well as Associate Director of the Indigenous Law Research Unit. She teaches in the areas of Criminal Law, Business Associations, Law-and-Film, Legal Theory, and Indigenous Research Method and Practice. She has also worked on the development of the TRC-inspired blog #ReconciliationSyllabus.

CPD Points: 1

Location: Sydney Law School, Common Room, Level 4, New Law Building (F10), Eastern Avenue, Camperdown
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