Crossing a Bridge at Ground Zero: Teaching a First Nations Pre-Law Enabling Program

Abstract

Darwin, or Garramilla, sits on Larrakia Country.  This is a place where saltwater meets fresh.  Here, we find the coming together of stories, cultures and knowledges, between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples.  However, these interactions have not always been peaceful.  Colonisation and its ongoing legacies have resulted in dispossession and disruption to culture and Country. However, Larrakia culture is strong.  Prioritising Larrakia culture and recognising its authority is one key to a teaching method that ensures First Nations students feel at home when they enter the university.  In this article, the coordinators of XX University’s First Nations pre-law program will discuss our approach to introducing Indigenous students to law school.  Through a process of mutual respect and mentoring, our teaching team creates a culturally safe space for First Nations students within a colonial institution: The University.  This paper will discuss how we have overcome the challenges of teaching in our unique pre-law enabling program to foster inclusion and increase the participation of First Nations students in law school.