Learning from the Seven Grandfather Teachings: A Law Student’s Reflection on Truth and Reconciliation

​On September 30, Canada marked its fifth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the survivors of residential schools, remembers the children who never returned home, and asks Canadians to confront the ongoing impacts of colonialism. It is also Orange Shirt Day, inspired by Phyllis Webstad’s story of having her orange shirt taken away on her first day at St. Joseph Mission Residential School.
In Toronto, the Indigenous Legacy Gathering at Nathan Phillips Square brought people together for a sunrise ceremony, youth workshops, and cultural traditions such as throat singing and drumming. These moments highlighted both remembrance and resilience, underscoring the importance of Indigenous voices in shaping reconciliation today.
For me, the day also prompted personal reflection. As a law student working primarily in the area of social assistance, I considered how Indigenous legal principles can inform and strengthen our work. The Seven Grandfather Teachings, wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, and truth, offer a framework for ethical and compassionate practice. I hope to embody these teachings in my professional growth, particularly through:
• Respect: Honouring the land on which our legal clinic operates and recognizing how our clients’ stories are deeply connected to it.
• Humility: Acknowledging my inexperience as a student and striving to learn from both clients and colleagues.
• Honesty: Speaking openly about historical injustices and understanding how they contribute to the complex trauma many clients experience.
Reconciliation, in part, means recognizing and integrating Indigenous systems of law within Canada’s broader legal framework. By embracing the values expressed through the Seven Grandfather Teachings, I aspire to become a more grounded and whole future legal practitioner.