“First Nations families and communities have to litigate their way to equality until enough caring Canadians understand the longstanding systemic discrimination that undermines hopes, dreams, and opportunities. Colleen Sheppard’s book explains the meaning of discrimination — a concept central to our landmark litigation.” 

Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada

“This superb enriching book effectively uses wrenching incidents in the lives of ordinary people in Canada to teach us about indispensable legal principles and concepts in human rights, anti-discrimination, and constitutional law. Anyone interested in making our society an equitable and inclusive one in which all can fully participate will thoroughly enjoy Colleen Sheppard’s accessible writing style as she equips you to understand and work with principles that all need to know.”

David Lepofsky, disability rights advocate, chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance, and visiting professor at the Osgoode Hall Law School

“When Colleen Sheppard taught me over a decade ago in my legal studies, I remember that she made sure to bring to life the legal concepts she was teaching by anchoring them in the stories of the people touched by our regulations and laws, or by the failure of legal mechanisms and unequal access to justice to protect people’s dignity and rights. That’s what was most powerful to me in this account of stories. It’s the stories of these people that push us to advocate for change in our laws and processes. This is a must read for every law student and human rights lawyer.”

Dr. Tanya (Toni) De Mello, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion consultant and trainer and Assistant Dean of Students at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law