Finding meaningful, community-based work through the Debwewin and Callwood Scholarships
My name is Carson Cook, I am a settler Canadian in 3L. This past summer I worked in the Law & Governance Department of Rama First Nation’s Band Administration through the Debwewin Summer Program. The Debwewin program is a scholarship run by the Indigenous Justice Division of the Government of Ontario to place law students with a host organization or community to work on Indigenous, community-based legal projects.
My name is Alicia Corbiere, I am Anishinaabe and Mohawk, and currently in my 2L year. This summer I also worked in the Law & Governance Department of Rama First Nation. I got this position through the June Callwood Fellowship, a Fellowship offered by UofT Law for Indigenous students to work with Indigenous communities and organizations.
I (Carson) chose to apply to a very limited selection of firms in the 2L recruit, and was not successful. I had intended to find an LSSEP placement regardless, because there are great opportunities that align my interest in community-based legal work. Entering law school, I did not have experience working with Indigenous communities and had not considered it before. However, many of the questions and issues raised by Professor Borrows in Indigenous Peoples and the Law resonated with me. Over my 2L year I pursued this resonance. I really appreciated engaging with Indigenous law in a few different courses, particularly the Anishinaabe Law Camp, as well as through Teachings on the Bundle. The more I engaged with Indigenous law and legal perspectives, the more my interest in this area of work grew. Aside from my career aspirations, I also wanted to continue the personal growth I had undergone. This led me to apply to the Debwewin Program, and although they prefer to hire students who have experience working with Indigenous communities, I was hired and placed with Rama First Nation.
Before I (Alicia) even began at UofT Law, I was aware of the Callwood Fellowship. The opportunity for Indigenous students to work within communities was a big pull for me to choose this law school. My goal with law has always been to help Indigenous communities, and I specifically hope to help Anishinaabe communities with legal sovereignty and revitalization of Anishinaabe law. When I began the Callwood application process, I knew that I wanted to work for Rama First Nation, as they are a very progressive Anishinaabe community less than 2 hours from Toronto. I reached out to the General Counsel at Rama First Nation to see if he could supervise me as a summer student. Once he agreed, I wrote a brief proposal outlining the work I would be doing. I also wrote a statement of interest, outlining my reasons for wanting to do the Fellowship. Like any other job, I sent in my resume and grades, but there was no interview needed. The application process was difficult, and I often wondered if it was worth it to work on the proposal when I could find a job that would simply have everything laid out for me. However, when my proposal was approved, I knew I made the right decision. I got the opportunity to work in a community that I really look up to with no cost to the community itself, as my fellowship was paid for by UofT.
The work we did was meaningful. Our research contributed to long-term visions of the Chief & Council and how they make (by)law and approach governance in their Nation. Learning hands on and actually making a (small) impact was so valuable; being able to apply what we have been learning in school in a manner that makes a (small) difference was very rewarding. Even more rewarding was the personal aspect of the work. We both made amazing relationships within the Law & Governance department, and teachings from ceremonies and other learning opportunities outside of the office have remained present in our minds.
Our supervising lawyer also decided to teach us how to draw over the course of the summer. This was a fun, and at times a little scary experience (especially for Carson!). Seeing my (Carson) drawing go from essentially stick figures to something recognizable was so rewarding, and taught me a lot about the process of perseverance and learning, particularly doing so with vulnerability. Learning how to draw also taught us how to think about law, such as seeing things from a different perspective and figuring out how to create small details that flush out the overall picture.
I (Alicia) have always been passionate about working for First Nations and Indigenous communities. After my classes in 1L, I had a hard time picturing how most of what we had learned could be applied in First Nations. The breadth of assignments we got while working in Rama allowed me to see how each area of law can affect a First Nation, and use the skills I had to work on various legal issues. This was not only important for me on a professional level, but it gave me a lot of motivation on a personal level. I was able to see how my time in law school can actually help Indigenous communities, and it assured me that I have the opportunity to make tangible contributions.
There is a deep culture at U of T Law of focusing on Bay street jobs in corporate law. This pressure mounts within a few weeks of starting 1L, with job sessions for first years emphasizing the recruit process and gossip, rumours, and advice being passed down from upper year students. For some, this is a good fit. For some, it’s not.
There are summer opportunities outside of Bay Street and outside of the formal recruit that are incredibly rewarding. I (Carson) deeply appreciate that my few OCIs went nowhere, and the trajectory of my legal career and personal growth is so much better for working, learning, and having fun at Rama First Nation.
Before entering law school, I (Alicia) never considered working on Bay street or for corporate firms. I was surprised to see how many 1L students have their mind set on these positions. While I can see the allure, I think many students could benefit personally, and professionally from working directly with communities. I do not just mean Indigenous communities, but any communities one may hold close to their hearts. Through this work, you can gain invaluable work and legal experience, as well as realize meaningful change for the community you work for.
