Since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples have governed their nation territories according to their own laws – safeguarding land, air, water and communities. Drawing on the lessons learned over two decades of work with Indigenous peoples on Indigenous law-based approaches to land use planning, impact assessment and other aspects of environmental governance, in 2016 West Coast launched the RELAW program (Revitalizing Indigenous Law for Land, Air and Water).
 

The RELAW Co-learning Program

RELAW is a program of West Coast Environmental Law, supportive of and supported by the Indigenous Law Research Unit at the University of Victoria, Faculty of Law (ILRU). West Coast and the ILRU share the fundamental belief that Indigenous laws are foundational legal orders to be applied in the work that we do.

Through RELAW projects, legally trained staff from West Coast work collaboratively with Indigenous nations to:

• Draw on stories and the wisdom of Elders to develop a synthesized summary of legal principles related to the care of the natural world and the environmental governance that is to take place in their nation territory;
• Develop a law, policy, agreement or plan grounded in their own laws and community dialogue; and/or
• Develop and put into action a plan for implementing and enforcing their own laws on a particular environment or resource development issue ensuring that such laws are applied through set standards and accountability protocols.

RELAW’s annual Co-learning Program consists of three retreats held over the span of a year. Two of the retreats are in person and one is online. Approximately 20-30 participants attend the retreats as a “cohort” representing the Indigenous nation or community they live and/or work in. Participants learn about approaches to researching, applying and enforcing Indigenous law through a story-based approach with interactive curriculum designed to honour the Indigenous nation territory hosts and uphold protocol in community.

RELAW participants have the opportunity to:

• engage with their nation’s own laws and protocols through stories (published or through oral histories);
• explore how these stories can shape community decision-making processes; and
• learn about approaches to putting Indigenous law into action. 

Participants will hear from local Elders and knowledge carriers and learn from RELAW partners who are working to uphold Indigenous law in the work they do. Current RELAW partners are working in the fields of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), fisheries governance, watershed management, environmental assessment and various other spheres of Indigenous law and community engagement work. This is an opportunity to build a supportive network with one another and share knowledge of best practices.   

Through this year-long co-learning program, participants will discuss approaches to applying and enforcing Indigenous law through a story-based approach. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with their nation’s own laws and processes, and to explore how they can shape community decision-making processes. RELAW recognizes that Indigenous nations and communities are at different stages in the process of revitalizing their laws which is why participants will benefit from the shared experiences and best practices of other nations who may be facing similar challenges, and can build a supportive network with one another.

Indigenous nations or community organizations may nominate one or more co-learners (community members or employees) to participate in the year-long RELAW Co-learning Program to build on current or future work on revitalizing Indigenous law for their nation.

The 2025-26 RELAW Co-learning Program will run from November 2025 to June 2026.

There are two ways to participate:

1. As a “community guide” for your nation (if it is participating in a RELAW project); or,

2. As an individual co-learner (if your nation is not participating in a RELAW project this year).

If you have questions, please contact Katlia Lafferty at klafferty@wcel.org.

Details for Co-Learners 2025-26

• Participants will attend three co-learning sessions (RELAW Retreats). The first and third will be in-person retreats for 3 nights and 4 days. The second retreat is online over the course of 3 half days.
• Participants will receive guidance and coaching to organize a meeting or workshop in their community/on their territory during the year’s program.
• Participants should expect to spend time doing guided activities between learning sessions, to practice what they learn. This might involve working with your nation’s stories to identify legal principles or planning for a meeting or workshop about Indigenous law in your community.
• Participants who are employed full time in another capacity may participate as an individual learner, however, they should confirm with their employer to ensure they’ll be able to participate in the learning sessions.
• All retreat expenses (i.e., accommodation, food, materials) are covered. However, travel to in-person sessions is the responsibility of the participant through their nation. Stipends may be available to assist with travel costs if your nation or community is not able to cover this cost.

Dates and Key Themes 

Submit the Expression of Interest form by August 20th, 2025 to attend the following three Co-Learning Retreats: 

1. RELAW Retreat 1: Indigenous Law in Story – November 24-27, 2025 at Manning Park Resort
   _{Manning Park Lodge is in the North Cascade Mountains in an area that encompasses the headwaters of the Similkameen and Tulameen Rivers and connects several Indigenous peoples, including the sməlqmíx / syilx, Nlaka’pamux, Upper Skagit and Stó:lō. The area is known as saʕtikn in the nsyilxcən language. We look forward to learning more together about the area and the peoples who hold connections to it.}
    
2. RELAW Retreat 2: Indigenous Law in Dialogue – February 18-20, 2026 – virtual half-days
   _{This session will be led by Ecko Aleck, of Sacred Matriarch Creative. Sacred Matriarch Creative is led by an Indigenous 2spirit being, mother, artist, and healer intertwining ancestral teachings in business, empowerment, and creativity. RELAW will share tools and resources related to dialogue, deliberation and engagement.}
    
3. RELAW Retreat 3: Indigenous Law in Action – June 1-4, 2026 at Loon Lake Lodge
   _{Loon Lake Lodge & Retreat Centre is located in Katzie “q̓ic̓əy̓ – …land of the moss” territory, in scenic Maple Ridge, BC, approximately one hour east of Downtown Vancouver. Loon Lake Lodge & Retreat Centre is a year-round meeting, conference, and retreat destination tucked quietly in the heart of University of British Columbia’s Malcolm Knapp Research Forest.}

Click here to learn more about 2025-26 RELAW Retreats in the Co-learning Program.

Other Co-learners

Are you a RELAW Cohort alumni or a RELAW Partner Nation and not able to participate in the full year-long program? Space permitting, we welcome participation from Indigenous leadership and other community members at any of our co-learning sessions. Please let us know in advance so we can check if there is space available and that your meals and accommodation are looked after.