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NAN Press Release

NAN CONCERNED ABOUT GOVERNMENT’S LACK OF CONSULTATION WITH FIRST NATIONS PRIOR TO CONCEPTION OF NEW PROGRAMS

THUNDER BAY, August 19, 2008: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler expressed concern about the lack of consultation with First Nations prior to the inception of new programs following an announcement for Aboriginal community justice initiatives made by Attorney General Chris Bentley at the Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre today.

“It’s not so much about the content of today’s announcement but rather the process. Here we have another example of the government rolling out a new program without first consulting the people who will be affected the most,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. “First Nations, including the NAN communities should have been consulted. Holding a meeting one hour before the announcement, as they did in this case, is just not going to cut it.”

The Government of Ontario announced today the inception of the Aboriginal Victims Support Grant Program which will provide $2 million in funding from the Victims’ Justice Fund to Aboriginal communities and organizations in Ontario, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit, for one-time projects to enhance supports to victims of crime. “First Nation people continue to be over represented as victims of crime as well as in the correctional system, in relation to the rest of the population. Something definitely needs to be done, but it needs to be done properly and with consultation with First Nations. We need to look at the system itself and address what changes need to be made,” said Fiddler.

Also announced today was $96,000 for the Aboriginal Community Council Program, operated by the Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre as well as $41,000 to provide Thunder Bay’s courts with specialized reports on Aboriginal offenders when making sentencing decisions.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is a political territorial organization representing 49 First Nation communities in James Bay Treaty 9 and Ontario portions of Treaty 5 – an area covering two thirds of the province of Ontario.

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For more information please contact Kristy Hankila, A/Director of Communications – Nishnawbe Aski Nation (807) 625 4952 or (807) 629 1512 mobile.

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Form Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal

Aboriginal justice: $135,000 slated for 2 programs

By JIM KELLY - August 20, 2008
 
Attorney General Chris Bentley was on hand Tuesday at the Indian Friendship Centre to announce two provincial initiatives that will help reduce crime and victimization among aboriginal people.

Seeking to increase access to justice for aboriginal peoples, the Ontario government has pledged $135,000 for two Thunder Bay initiatives.

Attorney General Chris Bentley announced the funding Tuesday at the Indian Friendship Centre.

Bentley said $96,000 would go to a program that brings together the accused, victim and council members to identify and address the reasons for the accused‘s actions.

This program has been in existence at the Friendship Centre for 10 years.

“It involves community members in the administration of justice,” said executive director Anne Lesage.

“It‘s strongly recognized for its effectiveness in our community.”

The province is also giving $41,000 to provide Thunder Bay‘s courts – which make sentencing decisions for aboriginal offenders – with specialized reports.

These are similar to pre-sentence reports, but deal with the unique circumstances of aboriginal offenders so they receive “fair, equitable and culturally sensitive treatment” by the courts.

“We are working with our partners to offer programs that will reduce the number of aboriginal victims in our communities and aboriginal people in our correctional facilities,” Bentley said.

“Our aboriginal community justice programs and victim support grants help to achieve these goals by building on the good work being done by our justice partners.”

The victim support grants program is funded by a $2-million investment provincewide for aboriginal communities and organizations, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit.

The funding will provide linguistically and culturally appropriate services to aboriginal victims of crime.

The services will address a broad range of victimization including sexual assault, historical sexual abuse (residential schools), child abuse, youth violence, domestic violence and hate crimes.

Application forms for the program are available from Ontario Victim Services Secretariat regional offices or the Ministry of Attorney General website. The deadline for submitting applications is 4 p.m. on Oct. 31.

The funding was welcomed by Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle and MPP Bill Mauro (L-Thunder Bay-Atikokan) who praised the fact that aboriginal communities have a voice in the justice system.

“The aboriginal community justice programs we support allow local communities to offer culturally appropriate ways to help aboriginal people deal with the criminal justice system,” Gravelle said.

“Our government is pleased to support programs that help aboriginal people take responsibility for the administration of justice in their communities.” Mauro said.

While it was a good news story for the government, this wasn‘t the case for Nishnawbe-Aski Nation.
NAN deputy grand chief Alvin Fiddler was upset that First Nations weren‘t consulted prior to the implementation of the programs.

“It‘s not so much about the content of the announcement, but rather the process,” Fiddler said in a NAN news release Tuesday.

“Here we have another example of the government rolling out a new program without first consulting the people who will be affected the most.

“Holding a meeting one hour before the announcement, as they did in this case, is just not going to cut,” Fiddler said.
While not directly responding to Fiddler‘s complaint, Bentley‘s press secretary Sheamus Murphy said the aboriginal victim support grants are a direct response to the need expressed by First Nations for culturally sensitive programs to support victims.

“To add to that, it means that how those programs are going to look, how they‘re going to operate, what they‘re going to do . . . those are going to be proposals developed by aboriginal communities, by aboriginal organizations.

“Then we will fund those initiatives to help victims,” Murphy said.