Val Napoleon is interim dean of law at the University of Victoria and Law Foundation chair of Indigenous Justice and Governance.

She is from Saulteau First Nation, and an adopted member of the Gitanyow (Gitksan) House of Luuxhon, Ganada (Frog) Clan. Prior to UVic, she worked as a community activist and consultant for more than 25 years, specializing in health, education, and justice issues.

Her research focuses on Indigenous legal traditions and theory, Indigenous feminism, self-determination, and governance. She co-founded UVic’s joint degree program in Canadian Common Law and Indigenous Legal Orders (JD/JID) — the first Indigenous law degree program in the world.