Since joining the Common Law Section in 2008, Professor Cameron has distinguished herself as a passionate educator, researcher, and advocate for marginalized communities, including Indigenous Peoples, women, and the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Her innovative, experiential teaching style bridges legal theory with real-world issues, helping students engage meaningfully with the law.
Professor Cameron has played a pivotal role in decolonizing the law curriculum at µçłµÎŢÂë, especially through her efforts to assist the Common Law Section’s work in responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 28. She co-led a 2023 pilot project delivering Indigenous legal content to all first-year students and is currently shepherding a permanent TRC course set to launch in 2025. Her work is informed by Indigenous scholars and emphasizes respectful, non-hierarchical learning.
As part of the Excellence in Education Prize, Professor Cameron receives a $10,000 grant to be put towards innovative teaching practices. Professor Cameron’s “Reconciliation and Decolonization Pedagogy Project” aims to deepen and share over 15 years of expertise in integrating Indigenous legal traditions and reconciliation pedagogy into legal education. Grounded in the Anishinaabe Seven-Pointed Star framework, the initiative – led by the Common Law Section’s Reconciliation and Decolonization Committee – aims to create an interactive, virtual teaching space on the platform. This resource will feature modules on law school curriculum development, experiential learning (including site visits and artistic engagement), and Indigenous legal resources, with a special focus on Algonquin law. Through partnerships with Indigenous scholars and artists, and by making materials accessible across disciplines, the project seeks to transform legal education and promote reconciliation throughout the university and beyond.
A prolific researcher, Professor Cameron integrates insights from her research programme directly into her teaching, particularly in the courses she teaches on Property Law, Indigenous Legal Advocacy, and Gender, Sexuality and the Law. Her assignments encourage students to grapple with real-world challenges and often blend legal inquiry with creative expression and community engagement.
Beyond the classroom, Professor Cameron mentors students and has created numerous placement opportunities for students in advocacy organizations. She has also led public education initiatives and worked to strengthen ties with Algonquin communities. She received the Order of Ottawa in 2018.
This is the second teaching award Professor Cameron has earned in as many years. Her exceptional contributions earned her the 2024 University of Ottawa Award for Excellence in Teaching. Truly, she exemplifies what it means to be an educator dedicated to justice, reconciliation, and transformative legal education.