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Indigenous Applicants
TRU Law is committed to reconciliation, a process that has specific importance in the field of law. As the Truth and Reconciliation Commission wrote, reconciliation requires Canadian law to become
…an instrument supporting Aboriginal peoples’ empowerment… A commitment to truth and reconciliation demands that Canada’s legal system be transformed. It must ensure that Aboriginal peoples have greater ownership of, participation in, and access to its central driving forces.
Reconciliation includes increasing the number of Indigenous lawyers in the legal profession. At TRU Law, this means Indigenous applicants have access to a distinct category of admission. First Nation, Inuit, and Métis students may apply under the Indigenous Canadian category. We encourage Indigenous applicants to apply and to bring awareness of Indigenous experiences into their applications.
Applicants in this category will be assessed for their academic success potential. TRU Law recognizes that past academic and LSAT performance may not be the only or best way to evaluate a candidate's ability to succeed, particularly in light of Indigenous access to education in Canada and education outcomes generally.
Applicants in this category may receive consideration with particular attention to personal history as it relates to past academic performance, connections to Indigenous communities and organizations, employment history, and other factors and indicators of potential for future academic success. Applicants in this category should ensure such factors are described and discussed in the "statement of interest" and "additional statement" portions of their applications.
Supportive and Welcoming Environment
Indigenous students at TRU Law will find a welcoming environment. TRU offers cultural and educational support services to Indigenous students, creating a sense of community regardless of whether you are from Secwepemcúlucw or elsewhere. For more information on being an Indigenous student at TRU, visit the Indigenous TRU website or view our detailed document of TRU Law Indigenous Supports. Many scholarships and awards are available to incoming Indigenous students, and current Indigenous students.
Within the law school, you will find student groups, initiatives, courses, and course content that welcomes you and advances your knowledge and awareness of Indigenous issues. Examples include:
- our 2L mandatory course, Truth and Rebuilding Canadian Indigenous Relations (TRC)
Plus electives such as:
- Comparative and International Indigenous Rights
- Indigenous Peoples and Canadian Law
- First Nations Governance and Economic Development
- First Nations Business and Taxation
Our students also have the opportunity to participate in the national Kawaskimhon Moot, and to join the Indigenous Law Students’ Association that is actively involved in shaping student experiences at the faculty.
