The Allard School of Law joins the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Law in celebrating Professor Patricia Barkaskas as she concludes her term as the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan H. Robert Arscott Chair.
The Arscott Chair is awarded to distinguished legal scholars whose work advances legal education and public understanding of the law, particularly in areas of access to justice and legal reform.
The significance of this role and the lasting impact of Barkaskas’s work was marked by a ceremony and recognition by USask Law Dean Martin Philipson on December 9, in celebration of her leadership, scholarship and contributions to legal education. Her appointment as the Chair runs from July 1 to December 31, 2025.
A Métis lawyer and educator, Barkaskas joined USask Law as Chair while serving as an associate professor at the Allard School of Law. During her term, she taught the first offering of Métis Law at USask – an important milestone in legal education that foregrounds Métis legal traditions within Canada’s plural legal landscape.
“The students in my Métis Law course made my experience truly exceptional,” says Barkaskas. “Their engagement, excitement and willingness to grapple with unfamiliar concepts and challenging ideas reaffirmed what is most rewarding about teaching: introducing learners to new information while supporting them to approach what they do not yet know with curiosity and humility.”
The USask College of Law Endowed Chairs program offers legal scholars a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in research, writing, teaching and community-building, all while being welcomed into the daily life of USask Law. The program allows visiting scholars to pursue their own research projects, host conferences or workshops, and teach a course of their choice. Barkaskas says the model meaningfully supports academic freedom, innovation and intellectual exchange.
Reflecting on the appointment, Barkaskas shared her enthusiasm for the role and its broader purpose:
“My experience as the Law Foundation Chair at the USask College of Law stands out as a highlight of my career so far. The combination of outstanding students, supportive colleagues and institutional commitment to equity and innovation created a deeply affirming environment,” Barkaskas says. “The experience showcased the program’s unique ability to bring new and emerging areas of law into the classroom while connecting students with lived and scholarly expertise.”
The opportunity to participate in a writing workshop for Indigenous and racialized women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ legal scholars was particularly meaningful for Barkaskas. Supported by the Law Foundation Chair, the workshop brought together “people who are so often isolated and marginalized in their home institutions to share work, exchange feedback, and talk openly about their experiences,” she says.
“The success of this workshop has sparked hope for future initiatives,” Barkaskas adds. “With additional funding, there is real potential to establish an annual event that continues this work, strengthens networks among Indigenous and racialized women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ legal scholars, and supports a new generation of voices in the legal profession.”
Central to Barkaskas’s work as Chair has been the opportunity to begin development of a public legal education toolkit focused on the practical use of Indigenous laws. Designed to support Indigenous communities, legal practitioners and the public alike, the toolkit aims to foster respectful engagement with Indigenous legal orders and support their revitalization.
Throughout her term as Chair, Barkaskas has emphasized the importance of this work for law students, noting that many will go on to serve as lawyers, policymakers, judges and leaders within their own Indigenous Nations in a multi-juridical Canada that acknowledges Indigenous laws.
Barkaskas has brought considerable experience and commitment to this role. She served as Strategic Advisor to the Dean for the National Centre for Indigenous Laws and as an associate professor (limited term) at the University of Victoria Faculty of Law (2022–2024). She has also held leadership roles at Allard Law as Academic Director of Indigenous Legal Studies (2021–2022) and Academic Director of the Indigenous Community Legal Clinic (2014–2022). The presentation of the Arscott Chair plaque recognizes not only the completion of her term, but also the enduring significance of her contributions.
“I return to Allard School of Law feeling valued for my expertise and experience and with a renewed sense of connection to the broader community of legal scholars and educators doing ground-breaking work at law faculties across the country, including Allard.”
Congratulations to Professor Barkaskas on this well-deserved honour and on her work to advance understandings of Indigenous legal orders and pathways toward justice, education and reconciliation. The law school looks forward to welcoming her back this January as she returns to her role as associate professor at Allard Law.
