In 2019 the BC Legislature passed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. This law requires all laws in BC to be brought into alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The BCLI has launched this Reconciling Crown Legal Frameworks program to support the research and innovations required to implement this legislation.

Qeluc’ (To Spin) / Bodies of Knowledge, 2023

READ ABOUT THE STORY BEHIND THIS SPINDLEWHORL

 This design is an abstract spindlewhorl meant to embody movement, transformation, and the drawing upon of two bodies of knowledge to create something new. Spindle whorls are used in the spinning of wool for weaving in Coast Salish culture. They are prominent examples of our traditional art forms. In this design, Eliot White-Hill (Kwulasultun) drew upon Coast Salish forms to tell a narrative of two systems, two bodies of knowledge coming together to make something new.

Introduction

The BCLI established the Reconciling Crown Legal Frameworks Program (RCLF Program) to support the alignment of BC’s Crown legal framework with Indigenous laws. In November 2019, the BC government passed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act), a globally significant legislative development creates a path forward that respects the human rights of Indigenous peoples.

Implementation of the Declaration Act presents new legal issues and research opportunities. Innovative law reform and education will be required to enable the Crown legal system to align with Indigenous legal frameworks. The BCLI will explore approaches to support Declaration Act implementation, building on our deep understanding of Crown law and comparative legal frameworks. Our emphasis will be to develop ways that the Crown legal system needs to adjust to support implementation of the Declaration Act, while also ensuring that this work supports reconciliation and access to justice for Indigenous peoples in BC.

Weaving new approaches

The legal landscape in Canada will need to adapt to weave in different legal orders, different bodies of knowledge, and different ways of thinking about law. The work the BCLI is undertaking through this program is one strand in the creation of a new legal landscape. For the BCLI, the artwork of Eliot White-Hill reflects the potential for something new arising out of many strands woven together. We welcome hearing from you about this program and this work.

We encourage you to get in touch with Karen Campbell at [email protected] or Megan Vis-Dunbar at [email protected].

‘Qa’ToBeTogether / Interwoven Landscape, 2023

READ ABOUT THE STORY BEHIND THIS LANDSCAPE

This artwork is an abstract design that draws upon traditional Coast Salish forms in a contemporary way to tell a story. The story is told through deconstructed weaving patterns and figurative forms. It is about an interwoven landscape. As we follow the work of forming new systems from different traditions, what does that landscape look like? What teachings do we carry? How can we go about existing within this new space in a good way?
The details and different aspects of this design remind us that in Indigenous knowledge systems, our teachings come from the land and they come from each other. It is critical to honour that.

Qeluc’ (To Spin) / Bodies of Knowledge, 2023

READ ABOUT THE STORY BEHIND THIS SPINDLEWHORL

This design is an abstract spindlewhorl meant to embody movement, transformation, and the drawing upon of two bodies of knowledge to create something new. Spindle whorls are used in the spinning of wool for weaving in Coast Salish culture. They are prominent examples of our traditional art forms. In this design, I drew upon Coast Salish forms to tell a narrative of two systems, two bodies of knowledge coming together to make something new.

Additional Resources

The resources listed below helped to inform the development of the primers.

Other Publications