Valley of the Birdtail: A roadmap to reconciliation gifted to law students with donor support

Attendees received a complimentary copy of Valley of the Birdtail during the author talk held on March 15 in the Michael J. Trebilcock solarium, Falconer Hall. The session was moderated by Promise Holmes Skinner (JD 2013).

In their critically acclaimed non-fiction book, Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town and the Road to Reconciliation (HarperCollins, 2022), Faculty of Law alumni Andrew Stobo Sniderman (JD 2014) and Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii) (JD 2003) tell the story of two communities in Manitoba “divided by a valley, a river and 150 years of racism”.

Read U of T Law grad and prof draw lessons for Canada in new book at U of T News

With the generous support of donors Sarah Prichard, Allan Sniderman, Ann Wilson (LLB 1975) and Dean Emeritus and U of T President Emeritus, J. Robert S. Prichard (LLB 1975), many Faculty of Law students have received a complimentary copy of Valley of the Birdtail. 

"It is a joy to share this book with law students at the school that inspired me to undertake the project. I hope it enriches their approach to law and reconciliation, and I also hope it prompts students to undertake their own ambitious research," says Stobo Sniderman.

"My sincere thanks to the donors who made gifting the book to U of T Law students possible."

Book shortlisted for the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing

Books have been distributed to students enrolled in Indigenous Peoples and the Constitution of Canada; editors of the Indigenous Law Journal; and participants in the Callaghan Moot and the Kawaskimhon Moot, a consensus-based, non-adversarial moot that incorporates Indigenous legal traditions alongside federal, provincial and international law.

On March 15, the authors returned to the law school to host a book talk and signing where complimentary copies were also distributed. They discussed their process of research, co-writing and the many audiences they’ve been invited to present to, including judges, educators and policymakers.

Read Professor Sanderson’s keynote address at the IRPP’s 50th anniversary event on Nov. 23, 2022. 

For their next talk at U of T, the authors will be in conversation with Trinity College Provost and U of T Law Dean Emerita, Mayo Moran (SJD 1999), on April 4 at Trinity College.

The authors would like to provide Valley of the Birdtail to future U of T Law students. To make a gift, please contact Nicole Landa, Development Officer, Leadership and Annual Giving at nicole.landa@utoronto.ca or (416) 978-0493.

Watch the authors in The Jackman Series: Building Knowledge webinar