The Faculty of Law was honoured to welcome Justice Leonard Mandamin, Judge of the Federal Court to the law school on January 13, 2011. Justice Mandamin, who was the first Aboriginal judge appointed to the Federal Court of Canada, visited the law school to speak to the students enrolled in Aboriginal Peoples and Law (LAW 591), which is a survey course on Aboriginal legal issues in Canada.
Justice Mandamin, who graduated from the University of Alberta Faculty of Law in 1982, was called to the Alberta Bar in 1983 and operated his own firm (Mandamin & Associates) on the Enoch Indian Reserve in Alberta (1984-1999). While a lawyer, Mr. Justice Mandamin developed his practice expertise in diverse areas of law affecting aboriginal peoples including administrative, criminal, family, and personal injury law, as well as matters relating to treaty rights and land claims. In 1999, he was appointed to the Provincial Court of Alberta in the Criminal Division (Calgary) and assigned to sit in the Tsuu T'ina Peacemaking Court.
From L to R: Andrea Menard, Brock Roe, Justice Leonard Mandamin, Professor Val Napoleon and Jody Peterson