Using the Legal System to Advance Equality for Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA People

Written by: Alana Robert

This publication was created as part of LEAF’s Feminist Strategic Litigation (FSL) Project. The FSL Project examines the use and impact of feminist strategic litigation to help LEAF, feminists, and gender equality advocates more effectively combat systemic discrimination and oppression.

Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual) people carry significant and sacred roles in their communities. Actions and structures of colonialism have targeted this demographic in unique ways, often serving to fuel violence against them and seeking to erase Indigenous identities and cultures.

This report explores the possible pathways for using the legal system to advance the rights of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The discussion that follows should be treated as a starting point – it is not exhaustive nor a substitute for building relationships with Indigenous peoples, which all Canadians are called to form.

See the executive summaries in French and English below. You can also download the complete report, which is available in English only.

To learn more about the uses and limitations of the colonial legal system for advancing Indigenous rights, check out our webinar on The Legal System and Justice for Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA Persons.