Val Napoleon
Val Napoleon was appointed the Law Foundation Professor of Aboriginal Justice and Governance at the Faculty of Law, University of Victoria on January 1, 2012. She is from northeast British Columbia (Treaty 8) and a member of Saulteau First Nation. She is also an adopted member of the Gitanyow (Gitksan) House of Luuxhon, Ganada (Frog) Clan. Prior to joining the Faculty of Law at UVic, she is an associate professor cross appointed with the faculties of Native Studies and Law at the University of Alberta.
She worked as a community activist and consultant in northwestern BC for over 25 years, specializing in health, education, and justice issues. She have also worked with a number of regional, provincial, national, and international projects relating to indigenous legal traditions, conflict management, education, and citizenship. Her dissertation on Gitksan law and legal theory was awarded the UVic Governor General's Gold Medal for best dissertation in 2009.
Her current research focuses on indigenous legal traditions, indigenous legal theory, indigenous feminism, citizenship, self-determination, and governance. Some of her major initiatives include the proposed JID (joint JD and indigenous law degree) program, establishing the Indigenous Law Research Unit, and a collaborative national reconciliation and justice with the Indigenous Bar Association, Truth and Reconciliation, and the Ontario Law Foundation.
She has taught and published on aboriginal legal issues, indigenous legal theory, indigenous feminist legal studies, self-government, critical issues in restorative justice, oral traditions, and contemporary aboriginal issues. I also teach property law.
