What does justice for Indigenous people look like? It ain’t pretty!

What does justice for Indigenous people look like? It ain’t pretty!

Toronto, February 6, 2021: Indigenous Watchdog – Justice is one of those words that defines how healthy and humane a society and ultimately, a civilization, really is: is it impartial, transparent and applied equally to all of its members. If it is not, why not? A failure to acknowledge and address in a constructive and meaningful way any structural – or systemic – barriers that serve to marginalize or disenfranchise anyone would not be tolerated by any society that was committed to the common good. That being said, consider the following facts as reported by the Office of the Correctional Investigator (January 2020) and StatsCan (StatsCan annual reports):

• As of January 2020, incarceration rates for Indigenous people since April 2010 have INCREASED 43.4% while that of non-Indigenous people has DECLINED by 13.7%
• In 2015 the TRC Commission released their Calls to Action including # 30 “Commit to eliminating overrepresentation of Indigenous people in custody over the next decade”: Progress to date:
  • 2015 = 24.4%  vs 2020 = 30.04% of all inmates are Indigenous. 42% for Indigenous women!
• Also included in 2015, Call to Action # 38 “Commit to eliminating overrepresentation of Aboriginal youth in custody over the next decade”. Progress to date:
  • 2015 = 35% vs 2018 = 43% (StatsCan)

Consider as well what the consequences have been of the 15 incidents of excessive use of force and/or systemic racism and discrimination exhibited by the RCMP and other police forces across Canada from January 2020 through January 2021:

• Positive outcomes to advance Reconciliation = 3
• Negative outcomes to impede Reconciliation = 12

Consider as well the 16 policy decisions, actions and behaviours within the dominant power structures that inhibit and/or prevent an honest examination of how they perpetuate the status quo that for the most part keeps Indigenous people marginalized, underserved and ultimately in prison:

• ALL 16 have negative outcomes for Indigenous people.

Why?

The 16 events documented in Indigenous Watchdog can be categorized as:

• Continuous denial that systemic racism and discrimination even exists (4)
• Institutional reform in policing to change attitudes, beliefs and behaviour (4)
• Actions to curtail Indigenous protests to protect colonial economic interests (2)
• Ignoring human rights of Indigenous people (3)
• Refusal to acknowledge Aboriginal Rights and Title (3)

As indicated in the title. “What does Justice for Indigenous people look like? It ain’t pretty?”

For full details please see the Indigenous Watchdog blog post: ‘What does justice for Indigenous people look like? It ain’t pretty.”