National Indigenous Peoples Day: McCarthy Tétrault Announces Partnerships for Impact

Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day. The recent discovery of unmarked burials of Indigenous children at former residential schools is a stark reminder of the need to accelerate the process of truth and reconciliation. As part of McCarthy Tétrault’s ongoing efforts to address the systemic discrimination faced by Indigenous people, the Firm has formed the following important partnerships:

• Educating for Reconciliation with the Canadian Bar Association: The Firm is proud to be the significant partner of the CBA’s Truth and Reconciliation Toolkit, an online tool to assist law firms in creating reconciliation action plans. McCarthy Tétrault is also leading the way by sponsoring registration for all employees interested in taking “The Path – Your Journey Through Indigenous Canada”, a program to help participants overcome the lack of awareness of the historical treatment of Indigenous peoples in Canada. This partnership allows every member of the Firm to participate in this excellent course.
• Supporting Indigenous Law School Education with Indspire: McCarthy Tétrault has extended its funding for five national scholarships for Indigenous law students over the next five years, which will assist 25 students with their law school expenses over this period.
• Understanding Indigenous Legal Traditions: McCarthy Tétrault has partnered with Osgoode Hall Law School to support the ground-breaking Anishinaabe Law Camp and Rama First Nation. The Firm’s gift will fund the camp for the next three years.

“Education is key to truth and reconciliation. We are grateful for McCarthy Tétrault’s assistance in developing our Reconciliation Toolkit, and helping expand access to The Path course. Thank you McCarthy Tétrault for being an agent of change in our profession.” – Brad Regehr, CBA, President

“Osgoode’s Anishinaabe Law Camp works toward decolonizing and reconciling relationships and Canadian legal processes. McCarthy Tétrault’s support of our law camp is integral to sustaining this important work. This McCarthy/Osgoode partnership supports Indigenous communities in reclaiming and practicing Indigenous legal orders. The TRC Calls to Action reaffirm that law students have a responsibility to engage with and study Indigenous laws. Anishinaabe Law Camp must be experienced. We are excited McCarthy Tétrault is joining Osgoode on this journey toward reconciliation as part of the firm’s commitment to advancing Indigenous initiatives.” – Professor Jeff Hewitt, and Lori Mishibinijima, Program Manager & Special Advisor, Indigenous & Reconciliation Initiatives, Osgoode Hall Law School

“This new five-year commitment by McCarthy Tétrault represents a broadening and strengthening of our existing partnership – a development which is both timely and profound. Having a partner like McCarthy Tétrault, who is currently engaged in creating and implementing many reconciliation-related initiatives in their work, further reinforces our ability to support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis learners as they pursue careers in law. This is a tangible sign of reconciliation in action: a sign which will have both immediate and long-term benefits for these Indigenous students, their families & communities, the Canadian justice system, and Canada as a whole. We are proud to be sharing this journey with McCarthy Tétrault.” – Mike DeGagné, President & CEO of Indspire

These initiatives are in addition to the Firm’s ongoing efforts to address the under-representation of Indigenous lawyers, as well as the systemic discrimination faced by Indigenous people more broadly. This includes McCarthy Tétrault’s 1L Black and Indigenous Summer Program, the Indigenous Human Rights Clinic launched in partnership with Pro Bono Students Canada and the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, and the clean water class action the Firm is co-leading with the law firm OKT.

Learn more about McCarthy Tétrault’s Indigenous Programs and Initiatives
 

About McCarthy Tétrault

McCarthy Tétrault LLP provides a broad range of legal services, advising on large and complex assignments for Canadian and international interests. The firm has substantial presence in Canada’s major commercial centres as well as in New York City and London, UK.

Built on an integrated approach to the practice of law and delivery of innovative client services, the firm brings its legal talent, industry insight and practice experience to help clients achieve the results that are important to them.

The Firm’s award-winning Inclusion Now program combines diversity, inclusion and corporate social responsibility into one action-oriented plan centred around Leadership, Talent, Culture and Community. Inclusion Now informs every aspect of who we are as a law firm and what we do.

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For more information please contact our Inclusion Now Office at inclusion@mccarthy.ca, or our Legal and Strategic Advisor, Indigenous Initiatives John Brown at jbrown@mccarthy.ca.