Big Thinking at the Big Thinking Summit

Written by: Casey Caines & Megan Reti

WLGL legal counsel Casey Caines, Hero Laird and Megan Reti recently attended and presented at the Big Thinking Summit 2026, hosted by the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences to bring our work with Indigenous law into national conversations about community-led research and ethics with scholars from across the country. 

The WLGL legal team gave two presentations: “Relating to Indigenous Law: Research Methods that Centre Indigenous Law and Knowledge,” and “The Ethics of Ethics: Relationships, Knowledge, and Indigenous Partnership.” These presentations provided an opportunity to not only share work happening at WLGL but also to reflect on the responsibilities that come from researching with and alongside Indigenous Peoples and communities.

The first presentation, on research methods, provided a background on sources of Indigenous law and practical ways to engage including land based, linguistic, story-based, and kinship-visiting methods. 

The second presentation focused on ethical engagement and partnership with Indigenous Peoples, nations, and communities. The discussion explored WLGL’s practices to build research partnerships rooted in trust, reciprocity, and accountability. By walking through key provisions of WLGL’s Research Partnership Agreement (RPA), the presenters reflected on how the RPA incorporates the ethical principles of their work, and the relevant Indigenous legal principles of the communities they work with.

Both the presentations and discussions reinforced for us the importance of continuing to develop research practices that are responsive. The insights shared and relationships strengthened through the summit will continue to inform and support the Lodge’s work moving forward.