"Years of complaints that First Nations people have been systematically excluded from serving on juries in Ontario culminated Thursday in the provincial government calling an independent review into the situation.
In a statement late Thursday, Attorney General Chris Bentley announced former Supreme Court of Canada justice Frank Iacobucci would review a jury system that on-reserve natives say has failed them badly."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/08/11/ontario-aboriginal-inquiry.html
Justice Frank Iacobucci is a distinguished judge and no disrespect to him, but why isn't an Aboriginal person heading this inquiry?
"Lawyer Julian Falconer, who is acting for the Nishnawbe Aski, called the independent inquiry into the issue a Canadian first." Julian Falconer is a distinguished lawyer and no disrespect to him, but why is Nishnawbe Aski using a non-First Nations lawyer to represent our interests when there are plenty of First Nations lawyers in Ontario who are just as capable as Falconer?
Why is it that in 2011, non-Aboriginal legal people are still being selected by government officials and some of our leaders to examine legal issues that affect Aboriginal people?
There are plenty of educated Aboriginal legal people in Ontario who are perfectly capable of examining issues that affect us.
Another issue that requires examination is the lack of Aboriginal duty counsel in our court rooms. Like juries, non-Aboriginal duty counsel are also representing Aboriginal people in criminal court. Our people need legal representation by First Nations duty counsel in the criminal justice system. For example, there are three Aboriginal lawyers in Cornwall and not one of them is duty counsel. Why not? If there is one criminal justice setting that requires reform, it is Cornwall.
The needs of First Nations people in the criminal law setting are not being met.
The inquiry should be expanded to study the issue of the lack of Aboriginal duty counsel. If Ontario is going to pay Justice Iacobucci a hefty salary for this inquiry using our tax dollars, he should examine the lack of Aboriginal duty counsel as well. Kill two birds with one stone and use our tax dollars wisely!
The Ontario government's inherent racism towards Aboriginal people is blatantly obvious when our issues are continually being examined by non-Aboriginal people. The same goes for those First Nations leaders who hire non-First Nations lawyers to advocate on our behalf when we have plenty of qualified legal people who can do the job. It's an insult to Aboriginal people. We are just as deserving of respect and dignity like our non-Aboriginal neighbours.
It is 2011 and it is time for Ontario and our First Nations' leaders to start recognizing that Aboriginal people are just as capable as non-Aboriginal people. Use our people!
WHO IS WATCHING OUT FOR YOU?
No comments:
Post a Comment