Val Napoleon will speak on the topic of Indigenous Legal Perspectives as Policy and Research Foundation.

Val Napoleon has been a community activist and consultant in northwestern BC for over 25 years, specializing in health, education, and justice issues. She is the Law Foundation Professor of Aboriginal Justice and Governance at the Faculty of Law, University of Victoria, where she has worked with a number of projects relating to indigenous legal traditions, conflict management, education, and citizenship. Napoleon is from north east British Columbia (Treaty 8), a member of Saulteau First Nation, and an adopted member of the Gitanyow (Gitksan) House of Luuxhon, Ganada (Frog) Clan.

Established in 2009, the Katherine A.H. Graham Lecture on Aboriginal Policy provides a vehicle for examining a wide range of policy issues, cases, models and tools related to First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities across Canada. Under this initiative, the University annually invites a noted leader in the Aboriginal community, the non-profit sector, government or business to present a public lecture on Aboriginal policy.

Katherine Graham served as Dean of the Faculty of Public Affairs from 2003-2009. This lectureship honours her deep commitment to the sustainability of Aboriginal communities through public policy and citizen engagement.

The Graham lectures provide a vehicle for examining a wide range of issues, cases, models and tools related to First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities across Canada.