This Friday, November 7, 2025, the legal community will gather at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg for the Advancing Social Justice Through Law Conference. We are proud that Stacey Soldier will join as a panelist in the session on “Justice and Inquiries”.
About the conference
Hosted by the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF), the conference runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and brings together legal practitioners, community advocates and decision-makers. It is focused on the urgent work of addressing violence against Indigenous women and girls in Manitoba and across Canada, and on advancing the Calls for Justice issued by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
The program will probe what has been achieved so far and what remains to be done. There will be discussions on how law, policy and community practice must evolve, and how the legal sector can contribute meaningfully to systemic change.
About LEAF
- LEAF is a national charitable organisation working to ensure that the law guarantees substantive equality for women, girls, trans and non-binary people.
- The organisation pursues this mission through litigation and interventions in landmark cases, law reform efforts and public education campaigns.
- LEAF’s work spans many issue areas including gender-based violence, Indigenous rights and access to justice.
- Their vision emphasises that achieving gender justice in Canada requires addressing the intersecting realities of gender, colonialism and race.
Why Stacey’s participation is important
Violence against Indigenous women and girls remains a deeply urgent national issue. The Calls for Justice arising from the MMIWG National Inquiry set out a roadmap, yet effective implementation requires engaged legal professionals, responsive institutions and Indigenous-led approaches.
Stacey Soldier’s role as a panelist highlights several key themes:
- The importance of representation within the legal profession and decision-making spaces.
- The recognition that justice is not only about legal processes but also about culture, community and holistic healing.
- The need for sustained accountability and active involvement of legal practitioners in advancing systemic change.
What attendees can expect
- Participants at the conference will encounter thought-provoking keynote addresses, moderated panel discussions and breakout sessions. Topics will include:
- The responsibilities of lawyers, regulators and law firms in responding to issues raised by the MMIWG Calls for Justice.
- How legal frameworks can incorporate Indigenous legal traditions, trauma-informed practice and culturally safe approaches.
- The institutional reforms and policy changes required in Manitoba and nationally to give life to the Calls for Justice.
- Ways that legal practitioners, law firms and advocates can partner with Indigenous communities and frontline organisations.
Our involvement and commitment
As we at Cochrane Sinclair continue our work in Indigenous law, governance and business, participating in this conference aligns directly with our values of justice, reconciliation and meaningful legal service. We affirm that the work of law touches communities, rights, histories, futures, and we acknowledge the responsibility that comes with it.
Call to action
If you are part of the legal community, or if you are committed to advancing justice for Indigenous women and girls, we encourage you to engage with this work. To learn more about LEAF and the conference, please visit https://www.leaf.ca/news/advancing-social-justice-through-law-conference/ and consider how you and your organisation can contribute to meaningful change.