Moot Report 2026: Team Manitoba recognized with Table Award at Kawaskimhon Indigenous Moot

The 31st Annual Kawaskimhon National Indigenous Moot Competition took place March 13 - 14, 2026, hosted by the Windsor University Faculty of Law. The University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law sent two teams to compete, including third-year students Kaedyn Lashley, Katie McKenzie, Tréchelle Bunn, and Josh Gandier. The team was coached by Marc Kruse [JD/15], Director of Indigenous Legal Learning and Services, and Daniel Diamond, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law.

This year, 29 teams from approximately 18 law schools competed in this consensus-based, non-adversarial moot, which incorporates Indigenous legal traditions alongside federal, provincial and international law, and concepts of dispute resolution.

Mooters participate in roundtable negotiations on a particular topic in Indigenous law, representing their assigned party’s positions to their circles. Facilitators guide the discussions with the goal of reaching a consensus. The Kawaskimhon Moot allows students to deepen their understanding of Indigenous legal issues and Aboriginal law, and while there are no competitive awards, starting in 2025, one team from each table has been recognized with a particular type of ‘table award.’

This year, the team of Kaedyn Lashley and Katie McKenzie received a table award for “The Living Law Recognition.” This distinction is presented to the team that demonstrated outstanding integration and recognition of Indigenous law(s) and legal orders throughout the negotiation process. “Receiving this recognition was incredibly rewarding, and I look forward to utilizing the advocacy skills I developed throughout the moot experience in future endeavours,” Lashley said.

Several team members shared their perspectives on participating in this moot including what inspired them to try out for this unique law school experience, and what were some key lessons learned.

Kaedyn Lashley

A unique and meaningful approach to legal advocacy

“I was drawn to the Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal Moot because of its unique and meaningful approach to legal advocacy. One of the main aspects that drew me to the Kawaskimhon Moot was its non-adversarial, consensus-based format. Unlike other moots, the Kawaskimhon not only incorporates Indigenous legal orders but also places significant emphasis on them. Indigenous laws and decision-making processes are considered alongside federal, provincial, and international law, offering a perspective that is seldom available in other moot competitions. 

 “Heading into the moot, I anticipated it may be a challenge to integrate Indigenous legal orders and traditions with the common law approach, which is consistently reinforced and underscored throughout law school. Nevertheless, I was eager to see Indigenous laws at the forefront of the negotiation process and formally recognized as a source of law within a moot. 

“Additionally, I was interested in the opportunity to develop my negotiation skills in a collaborative, solution-oriented environment. As a Métis student, the chance to engage with peers from across Canada, particularly other Indigenous students, was a major motivation. Gaining insights from the other students and moot coaches’ viewpoints enhanced the overall experience for me. Being part of these conversations strengthened my negotiation skills and encouraged me to approach legal problem-solving in a more holistic way. The experience also helped me gain greater confidence in adapting my position as new information and perspectives became available.”

Katie McKenzie

An opportunity to engage with Indigenous legal orders, laws, and traditions within the framework of Western legal systems

“I was particularly drawn to this moot because of its distinctive, non-adversarial negotiation style. As I hope to pursue a career in Business Law, I thought this moot format aligned more closely with my professional goals than moots focused on litigation-based practice. I was also drawn to the moot because it offered a unique opportunity to engage with Indigenous legal orders, laws, and traditions within the framework of Western legal systems. While these perspectives have been emphasized throughout my legal education, I had not yet encountered a meaningful opportunity to apply them in practice prior to this moot. 

“The most significant take-away I had from this experience was developing my ability to communicate effectively with others, particularly when navigating contentious issues. Throughout the negotiation process, our team did not always align with the positions of other teams. Learning to manage these differences while continuing to advocate for our clients proved invaluable and is a skill I will carry forward into my future practice. 

“This experience helped clarify the direction I want to pursue my legal career. This year’s case problem was especially interesting to me because the overlap between corporate goals and community interests required both strong legal analysis and clear, effective communication. Participating in the 2026 Kawaskimhon Moot reinforced my interest in building a corporate practice where I can contribute to advancing projects while ensuring legal obligations are met and relationships with Indigenous communities are respected and sustained.”

Tréchelle Bunn

Advocating for outcomes offering practical and forward-looking solutions

“I was drawn to this moot after hearing from past students that it was a highlight of their law school experience. After participating, I can confidently attest that this is true. I was also intrigued by the moot's non-adversarial and negotiation style approach, which I find to be valuable skills not only as an aspiring lawyer but also as a Chief [Bunn is currently serving as Chief of the Birdtail Sioux First Nation in Manitoba.].

“One of my key takeaways was the importance of thinking beyond colonial legal frameworks and grounding solutions in understanding, respect, and Indigenous legal orders. The moot challenged me to remain grounded in asserting Indigenous legal orders and traditions as living sources of law and as meaningful pathways for addressing complex legal issues and disputes.

“The fact pattern centered on the Building Canada Act and examined a critical question: when Indigenous laws, legal orders, and Treaty relationships are recognized, what is the lawful foundation of an Indigenous consultation process, and who holds the authority to design, govern, and conclude that process?

“I valued the opportunity to advocate for outcomes that could offer practical and forward-looking solutions within the current legal and political landscape surrounding the BCA. I also appreciated the opportunity to act as legal counsel for the Assembly of First Nations and to advance positions aligned with the outcomes I would hope to see in practice as Chief of my community.

“It was also especially meaningful to participate alongside my partner, Josh Gandier, with whom I previously served as Youth Chief for the Southern Chiefs’ Organization. During our time as Youth Chiefs, we participated in many high-level discussions and meetings, so it was incredible to build on that foundation and apply our shared experiences and put them to the test during the moot table negotiations.”