Graduated: 2003Currently: Lawyer, Burchells LLP
CV: BA Anthropology/History, Dalhousie University, 1993 / MA, Atlantic Canada Studies, Saint Mary鈥檚, 2003 / LLB, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, 2015
Rosalie Francis remembers her first day of law school clearly: 鈥淚 went to one two-hour class at Dal law school, and right after that I walked down Robie Street and applied to Saint Mary鈥檚.鈥�
That was in 2001, and at that point Francis鈥攁 member of the Sipekne'katik First Nation, with a BA in Social Anthropology from Dalhousie鈥攈ad already been in the working world for seven years, employed with the Union of Nova Scotia Indians and working on negotiating treaty rights Mi鈥檏maq justice programs. She also helped to implement the 82 recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Donald Marshall Jr. Prosecution, which stemmed from the outcome of the landmark fishing-rights dispute. She wanted to continue working to advance Indigenous rights and justice issues, and logically saw a law degree as the best way to help her develop her knowledge and effectiveness. But, she says, 鈥淭here was very little research out there about our treaties, and none of the universities offered any kind of study in that field, or in Aboriginal rights or issues. So when I saw Atlantic Canada Studies, I thought I could find a strong focus there.鈥�
She thus embarked on a two-year program MA in Atlantic Canada Studies, where her thesis project was an investigation into the 18th-century treaty-making process鈥攁n attempt to uncover, in a scholarly fashion, the cultural and social norms in Mi鈥檏maq society of the time in order to 鈥渓ook beyond the written word鈥� and glean fuller insight into Mi鈥檏maq leaders鈥� intentions when signing treaties.
In the ACS faculty, Francis found knowledgeable and inquisitive mentors who helped draw out her interests, including her thesis advisors, one of whom was John Reid.
鈥淒r. Reid is just the best, I can鈥檛 speak so highly of anyone,鈥� she says. 鈥淗is fairness and balance when examining contentious historical issues, and he uncovers new angles, juxtaposing what the British, French, and Mi鈥檏maq were doing at various times. It was extremely gratifying to study with him.鈥� Upon graduation, Francis spent a year with the Mi鈥檏maq Rights Initiative before moving on to become Research Director at Membertou First Nation. There, she led an effort to create a research department on oral history and helped to bring more light to the significance or oft-overlooked oral histories. She spent five years in that role, and eventually鈥�14 years after walking out of that Dalhousie classroom鈥攔eturned to Dal鈥檚 Schulich School of Law. She earned her degree in 2015, spending her final semester at the Intensive Program in Aboriginal Lands, Resources, & Governments at Toronto鈥檚 Osgoode Hall Law School.
Today, Francis is an associate with Burchells LLP in Halifax, where, she says, her Saint Mary鈥檚 education has become invaluable.
鈥淚鈥檓 extremely thankful that I have my ACS degree, and spent those years doing that work,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t made all the difference, as to how I approach issues, and I can bring perspectives and knowledge to the table that many lawyers, even those with a lot of experience on these issues, simply can鈥檛.鈥�
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