Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde Responds to Nomination of Justice Malcolm Rowe to Supreme Court of Canada

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde Responds to Nomination of Justice Malcolm Rowe to Supreme Court of Canada

OTTAWA, Oct. 18, 2016 – Assembly of First Nations’ (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde responded to the nomination of Justice Malcolm Rowe to the Supreme Court of Canada. National Chief Bellegarde has renewed the AFN’s ongoing call for the appointment of an Indigenous person to Canada’s top court.

“I congratulate Justice Rowe on his nomination and wish him well in this new role,” said National Chief Bellegarde. “The Supreme Court can play an important role in advancing justice for Indigenous peoples. We urge all justices to familiarize themselves with Indigenous peoples and Indigenous law. The AFN will continue to advocate for more Indigenous people to be appointed at all decision making tables including the Supreme Court. More diversity of opinion leads to better decisions. First Nations belong at the table.”

Yesterday, Prime Minister Trudeau announced the nomination of Justice Malcolm Rowe to the Supreme Court of Canada. Justice Rowe was first appointed as a trial judge in 1999 and has served on the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador since 2001.

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nation citizens in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Updates.

For further information: Alain Garon, Bilingual Communications Officer, 613-241-6789 ext. 382, 613-292-0857 (cell), agaron@afn.ca; Jenn Jefferys, Communications Officer, 613-222-9656, jjefferys@afn.ca