Professor John Borrows, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Law, University of Victoria, Anishinaabe/Ojibway and a member of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, discussed Indigenous philosophies in both the Justice Assembly and a separate talk titled “Reclaiming Traditional Laws and Rebuilding Justice Systems” at the Parliament of the World’s Religions.
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Borrows, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said, “Indigenous law principles harmonize beautifully with principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
Borrows is using the Anishinaabe way to inform English law about living and laws that result to guide First Nations’ peoples. He proposes the idea of using law that comes from considering the Earth. He explained, “The freedom to believe helps us to understand that the laws guiding us (Anishinaabe/Ojibway) are from other places. Understanding comes from human endeavor, so we need to work to bring together those laws with our own.”
Borrows’ work seeks to “blend traditions,” since “we don’t live for ourselves; we are entangled in the past to live for the future.”