Jeff DeContie writes a defense for why Native followers of Jesus need to know something about law. He has just finished his first year of law school. Here Jeff and his wife enjoys some summer vacation in the Black Hills.
Native people study law. Christians study law. Native Christians should know some law too.
Most of our news is on issues surrounded by questions of law. However, sometimes the law is so disconnected from our daily lives. I hear about whether some judge can sit on the Supreme Court, but I may not know what happens if I fish out of season or what my neighbor is allowed to do on their property in the city. These are the specific legal issues.
On the other hand, there is a bigger picture of the law. It involves what you think is fair and just. Some countries privilege only a few ways of looking at law. However, many communities have a sense of how to maintain harmony, balance, order and fairness. It differs from place to place. None are perfect, but one dominant tradition of law applied to everyone fails as well. This way of teaching law has hurt people in the past.
Issues surrounding Indigenous people in many countries are certainly legal in nature. In Canada, we still have a piece of law that is dedicated entirely to "Indians." Is this fair? How can we turn past wrongs into a better future for our families and nations? Native groups near the Pacific Ocean may view the world differently than their neighbors in the prairies or even Atlantic region. Should one piece of law be dedicated to hundreds of different groups of people?
What about Christians? The Bible is very legal at times. After all, God has a covenant or contract with us. Regardless, some Christians do not want to be "of the world." So be it. Some, on the other hand, want to change how things are done in a country or region in order to carry out God's work of peace and fairness in society. They most likely want to bring a little bit of the heavenly kingdom down to the earthly kingdom by applying legal skills. Jesus asked His people to be servants. One can serve the public and society with their legal education.
This is why I write that Native Christians should be interested in studying law. There are many problems facing Native people in many different countries. Some people believe that the Creator of the Universe has encouraged peacemaking, fairness, and turning wrongs into right.
This is not to say studying law makes a person less or more important than others (or less valuable to the Creator of the Universe). If you care more about music, politics, business, or studying everything about God, this is perfectly fine. The point is if a person was interested in law (and rejected it because of jokes or negative feedback from others) then perhaps this person should think again.
There are people who make fun of lawyers, despise lawyers, or even love them. Most of the rumors involve lawyers having no heart or being obsessed with money. I think for most Native people and Christians studying law the opposite is true. Many sacrifice their time and money to pursue a passion that is close to their hearts.
What if Native people did not participate in studying law? I think it would be disastrous. Other people (who have no knowledge of the rights of the First People or care about them) would make decisions for nations and communities. Sounds like the old days. We have evidence of this already. It was not very fair and just.
How much better can a person from a community serve their own community with a legal education? Answer: way better most of the time.
Many cultures, nations, communities, families, and individuals are defended by trained legal people who have a sense of what is right in the world. They are respectful of the interests of their communities and nations. Remember, the law was used to hurt Native people, but this is changing. Native Christians can be involved in using legal skills to benefit Native people and anyone else who needs their assistance.
To be honest, it felt hard at first to balance the law in one hand with faith and culture in other. At times, it appears that the world simply does not want the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Yet, we have many biblical and traditional stories to maintain our faith and fight for what is right.
I personally think that if Native people want healthier communities and nations, we need more people educated in areas other than the study of God. We need lawyers, business people, engineers (to name a few) that can improve our society. The study of God at a seminary or Bible school is okay: there is nothing wrong with that. However, Paul the Apostle knew how to make tents (which was hard work back then) while preaching. Daniel was a scholar in Babylon, Luke was a doctor, Jacob was an expert in military affairs. We need other skills in addition to knowing about God.
My main point is to say what most people are saying these days: education is so important for our future. My specific point is that knowing the law will help make our nations and communities strong again. A person should trust in God, but they should develop a skill or a craft (a career) in order to support themselves, their family, and their community. Why not specialize in the area of justice and fairness?
Jeff DeContie has just completed his first year of law school at the University of Ottawa. A frequent writer for Indian Life, A Masters graduate from the University of Winnipeg, Jeff now makes his home with his wife Beth and young son Clive Henri in the Ottawa area.
