The Kawaskimhon (speaking with knowledge) Aboriginal Rights Moot is a culturally sensitive national forum where issues regarding Aboriginal rights are debated by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students from across Canada. Kawaskimhon is a great opportunity for law students to speak to issues of Aboriginal rights.
Kawaskimhon is hosted each year by a different law school. The first Kawaskimhon was held in 1994/95 at the University of Toronto. In 1996 the University of British Columbia hosted this event at the First Nations House of Learning. In 2009/10 the University of Ottawa hosted the event, and in 2008/9 the University of Windsor hosted, with each recent year seeing the participation of over 14 teams from across Canada.
This event is a two day forum. On the first day participants present oral arguments based on written submitted factums or other legal documents. At the end of the first day the host law school prepares a cultural night which usually includes a banquet, singers, and dancers. Kawaskimhon participants are required to work toward reaching consensus on the mooted problems or issues by the end of the second day. Issues such as band membership rights, territorial overlaps, the effects of hydro projects on Indian lands, Metis rights and Aboriginal heritage have been addressed by participants in previous moots.
The 2011 moot will be hosted by UBC Law. The focus this year will be on the issue of murdered and missing Aboriginal women. Teams will prepare opinion letters for their clients setting out both legal strategies around the issue and suggestions for Terms of Reference for an Inquiry based on their client's interests. The aim during the second day of the moot will be to reach consensus on Terms of Reference for an Inquiry that would best meets the needs and interests of all the groups present.
The UBC Law moot team consists of two to four members. The moot team meets weekly during January and February, and factums/materials are due 6-8 weeks after the problem is assigned in early January by the host law school. Students are assessed for a pass/fail mark based on their research, written factums/materials, and oral presentations at the Kawaskimhon. The moot is worth 5 credits.
