About us

Home on Native Land is brought to you by RAVEN

RAVEN is a registered charity that works to support Indigenous Nations who are upholding their rights in court. We do this through our fundraising and public education campaigns.
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Indigenous Peoples in Canada have some of the most powerful environmental rights in the world. But only if they can afford to uphold them in court — that's where RAVEN comes in. Learn more about RAVEN and the work we do to support Indigenous justice in Canada. 

Have Questions about Home on Native Land?

Who is the course for?

Home on Native Land is for anyone who is committed to living in a fair country. If you are ready to open your mind, uncover some ugly truths about the foundations of the colonial legal system in Canada, and gain a deeper understanding of whose land you are really on then jump in and explore Home on Native Land. 

What will I learn?

Through a series of videos, we’ll take a tour through the laws of this land we call Canada, and discover the good, the bad, and the ugly about Indigenous-settler relationships. Home on Native Land features Indigenous experts and storyteller who will inspire you to continue learning the truths and begin to take action. Ready to uncover the myths, stories, and ideas that are baked into the Indigenous and settler laws of this land? 

How is the course set up?

Home on Native Land has ten lessons laying out the fundamentals of Treaty rights, the Indian Act, Constitutional rights, and environmental rights & Indigenous stewardship – with illustrations. Each lesson feature a video with a prominent Indigenous thinker, scholar, or legal expert. And at the end of the lesson there are prompts for self-reflection and ways to initiate dialogue – at work, at school, or around the dinner table. At the end of each session is a quick quiz to check your understanding of the lesson.

We recommend you watch the videos first, and then dive into the text as you’ll hear about concepts in the videos that are referred to later in the lessons.

Why is this course important

RAVEN’s work is taking place in a time of great change and great opportunity. With reconciliation being discussed in communities, in classrooms, in boardrooms, and on the floor of Parliament, there is an upwelling of interest and passion for engagement with Indigenous rights in Canada.

At the same time, we face continued challenges as a result of centuries of assimilationist policy and colonization. While participating in dialogue about reconciliation, Indigenous communities continue to live without equitable access to clean water, to health care, and to education. 

Every one needs to take part in Truth and Reconciliation. This course is just one way (of many) to start to uncovering the truth. 
The course

What you'll learn in each lesson

Featuring Jeff Corntassel

LESSON 1: Whose Land is it, Anyway?

Learn about the concepts of manifest destiny, doctrine of discovery, terra nullius, and how the Crown came to have dominion over land in Canada.

Gordon Christie

LESSON 2: Trick or Treaty?

Answer questions like Why do treaties matter? and How are treaties still relevant and are they being upheld today? After this lesson you'll be able to define between historic Treaties, numbered Treaties, and modern Treaties and what ‘unceded lands’ really mean.

Val Napolean

LESSON 3: The Indian Act or “Act Indian”

Learn to recognize the history and intent of the Indian Act. Examine changes and additions to the Indian Act made during the late 19th century and early 20th century, and how they influence Indigenous governance and legal traditions.

Karyn Pugliese

LESSON 4: Your Indigenous Legal History Sandwich

Understand the basic history of the Royal Proclamation of 1763. Learn about what led up to the White Paper, and why it failed. Get to know about the Duty to Consult and Section 35 of the constitution. Find out about the UNDRIP Implementation Act.

Glenn Coulthard

LESSON 5: The 3 Big “S” Words: Sovereignty, Self-determination, and Self-government

You'll learn the difference between sovereignty, self-government, and self-determination and how those terms are understood in Canada. As well as what recent legal rulings mean for self-determining Indigenous Peoples and their neighbours.

Johnny Mack

LESSON 6: Whose Land? Whose Law?

Understand Indigenous law as an evolving set of responsibilities and rights; look at an example of stewardship in practice; and see the differences between private property, common property, and Indigenous communal land use.

Dr. James Makokis

LESSON 7: A Beginner’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing

Learn about Indigenous rights prior to the existence of Canada; discover how colonial laws impact hunting, fishing, and gathering on traditional lands and waters; review legal challenges in which Indigenous Nations proved their prior and existing rights in court: and why that’s important!

Kupki7 Chief Judy Wilson

LESSON 8 – UNDRIP: A Declaration of Interdependence

Learn the basics of UNDRIP and how to explain B.C.’s DRIPA as well as areas that Kupki7 Judy Wilson gives examples of implementation.

Terri-Lynn Williams Davidson

LESSON 9 – Environmental Law: Zero Degrees of Separation

Learn how Indigenous Peoples understand stewardship responsibilities and how those shape relationships with the land. How Indigenous stewardship contrasts with common law and settler institutions like Parks Canada. And, how Indigenous Nations are using their legal frameworks to revitalize lands and waters in their territories, and to protect land, water, and air systems that sustain life.

John Borrows

LESSON 10 – Braiding Legal Traditions

Understand Canadian common law, including the way that European law has been incorporated in Canada. And, be able to recognize the basic principles of Canadian, European, and certain Indigenous law and legal traditions.

Credits

Home on Native Land was made in partnership with RAVEN and Stories First

Production Team

Executive Producer Susan Smitten
Production Manager Laurie Mackenzie
Graphic Designer Andrea Palframan
Co-developer, Producer, and Lead Consultant, Stories First, Leena Minifie
Production Coordinator Della Haddock
Writer Ryan McMahon
Production Assistant Levin Chamberlain
Indigenous Research Jenn Mackie
Video Editor D'Arcy Hamilton
Graphics D'Arcy Hamilton

Guest Speakers

Lesson 1 Jeff Corntassel
Lesson 2 Gordon Christie
Lesson 3 Val Napoleon
Lesson 4 Karyn Pugliese
Lesson 5 Glen Coulthard
Lesson 6 Johnny Mack
Lesson 7 Dr James Makokis
Lesson 8 Kupki7 (Chief) Judy Wilson
Lesson 9 Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson
Lesson 10 John Borrows

Course Design Team

Executive Producer Susan Smitten
Project Manager Laurie MacKenzie
Designer Andrea Palframan
Project Coordinator Levin Chamberlain
Curriculum Designer Dann McCann
Indigenous Curriculum Researcher Jennifer Mackie
Producer Leena Minifie
Project Consultant Jason Mogus
Project Coordinator Della Haddock
Grant Writer Josie Bannerman
Original Logo Art Mervin Windsor
Logo Designer John Velten
Comics Illustrator and Designer Warren Leonhardt

Connect with us

About Home on Native Land

Home on Native Land is a program designed for anyone to become familiar with the laws — both colonial and Indigenous — that govern what is known as Canada. 

Home on Native Land was produced by RAVEN, a registered charity that works to support Indigenous Nations who are upholding their rights in court. We do this through our fundraising and public education campaigns.

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  • 509 - 620 View Street, Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 1J6 
  • info@raventrust.com
  • (250) 383-2331
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