Aimée
Craft

I am an academic, lawyer, artist and change-maker. My work is Indigenous and inter-disciplinary at its core, as are each of my collaborators.  I let myself be guided by what life has to offer and by the people and places that inspire me, including my home in Treaty One territory.  Whether it be through public talks, written word or video, my message is consistent: respect the treaties, love the water and stand up for justice.

Associate Professor Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa

University Research Chair Nibi miinawaa aki inaakonigewin: Indigenous governance in relationship with land and water.

Water

Treaties

Indigenous Justice

In my various roles - teacher, public speaker, analyst, researcher, witness, conference organizer, mentor – I aim to empower through stories.  

From interview-based research, filmmaking, land-based learning, international partnership building and theoretical and methodological innovation, I strive for ethical and community engaged practice.

In 2020 I was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa. Internationally recognized as a leader in the area of Indigenous laws, treaties and water, I co-lead a series of major research grants on Indigenous water governance and have been funded for research projects from all three Canadian Research Agencies.

For over a decade I have worked on treaty, aboriginal and human rights claims at the Public Interest Law Centre. In 2016 I was voted one of the top 25 most influential lawyers in Canada.  I have chaired the Manitoba Arts Council and the Aboriginal Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association. I continue to be an active member of the Speaker’s Bureau of the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba.  My first book, Breathing Life Into the Stone Fort Treaty, focuses on understanding and interpreting treaties from an Anishinaabe inaakonigewin (legal) perspective and received multiple nominations and two book awards. Treaty Words, my critically acclaimed children’s book, explains treaty philosophy and relationships. 

I received the Law Faculty’s excellence in teaching award (2019) and the excellence in research award (2020).  I received a University of Ottawa research award (2021) and was given a great honour and responsibility: the University Research Chair in nibi miinawaa aki inaakonigewin: Indigenous governance in relationship with land and water.