As executive
member responsible for the Justice Portfolio, my agenda is guided
by the Indian Justice Commission Chiefs who have clearly directed
me to develop and implement a First Nations administered system
of just relations. My staff within the Justice Secretariat has
focused its efforts on justice institutional development, while
supporting First Nations in fulfilling their objectives of building
governance capacity within their respective territories.
As a
result of the 2000 "policing crises" in Saskatchewan
and in response to pressure from the FSIN following the
discovery of the frozen bodies of several First Nation men
in Saskatoon, the Commission on First Nations and Métis
Peoples and Justice Reform (JRC) was established. At the
insistence of First Nations leadership, the JRC was mandated
to examine the relationship between First Nations people
and the Saskatchewan justice system.
In 2001,
the $3 million dollar Commission began to “review the
justice system with the intent of devising solutions to overcome
the systemic discriminatory practices and address attitudes
based on racial or cultural prejudice.” In June 2004,
JRC produced its Final Report, Legacy of Hope: An Agenda for
Change with 122 recommendations. Immediately after releasing
its report, the JRC office closed.
Despite
many excellent recommendations to improve community programming,
the report fails to acknowledge the special status of First
Nations, and repeats many recommendations made earlier by the
Linn report and the RCAP. Furthermore, the report recommends
“melting pot” initiatives for First Nations and
Métis. FSIN anticipated that reform and strategies for
change at a structural level would be the major focus of the
JRC recommendations.
As policy
and strategic planning moves forward, First Nations will face
many more challenges. To the Chiefs of Saskatchewan, I thank
you for your perseverance and dedication in addressing the many
critical issues that have brought our leadership together to
provide direction and assistance in developing our governance
processes that will, one day, empower our grandchildren to determine
their own future.
