Aboriginal Justice

About CPT's Aboriginal Justice Projects

CPT works in the US and Canada as an ally to indigenous / aboriginal rights groups.
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Truth and Reconciliation: Toronto - An Invitation

The Aboriginal Justice Team invite you to attend

The Meeting Place - Truth and Reconciliation Toronto 2012

Witness and honour courageous truth-telling.

Be a partner in the journey of reconciliation.

May 31, June 1-2

The Sheraton Centre Hotel, 123 Queen Street West, Toronto

Part of the mandate of the Aboriginal Justice Team is education and advocacy around the larger history of colonialism; linking this history with the ongoing struggles of Indigenous communities to maintain their traditional ways and treaty rights. In Canada, knowing the history of the Residential School system is essential to understanding Aboriginal Justice.

The Indian Residential Schools were a crucial tool of the colonial project. Funded by the government of Canada and administered by churches, the schools subjected Indigenous children to a programme of aggressive assimilation that aimed to eradicate their culture, language and identity. As well as the deplorable intentions behind the system, children were subjected to sexual, emotional, and physical abuse, families were broken up, and diseases like tuberculosis claimed many lives. Over 150,000 children were removed from their families, with around a third of that number never returning home. The last Residential School closed in 1996.

In recent years there has been increasing recognition of the abuse inflicted on generations of Indigenous children, and the impact that it has had on the social wellbeing of many communities. Many survivors have taken the courageous step of testifying about their experiences. Many of the churches involved and the Government of Canada have issued apologies and recognised the system's aims, assumptions and methods as wrong.

Currently, a historic series of regional and national events under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission are taking place across Canada, to collect and honour testimony, present statements of apology and create a permanent historical record.

The Toronto event (details above) is an opportunity to learn about this painful part of the shared history of this land, and to work towards reconciliation.

The Aboriginal Justice Team will be faciliatating a workshop exploring the intention of the Residential School system to clear the land for resource exploitation and settlement by eliminating Indigenous title. We will look at how to support Indigenous communities resisting this ongoing process. 

For more information on the event, please see http://www.councilfire.ca/TruthandReconciliation.html

ABORIGINAL JUSTICE: KI celebrates bittersweet victory

April 12th, 2012
in:

On 29 March 2012, the Ontario government paid $3.5 million to mining company God’s Lake Resources (GLR) to walk away from its leases, located on Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) lands.  Multiple sacred KI graves lie within the claim area.  KI had issued an eviction notice to GLR last September.

For KI, one of the largest First Nations communities in the region, it was perhaps a déjà vu moment.  Following the 2008 sentencing of six months in prison of six community leaders for protecting their land from mining exploration by Platinex Corp., the province bought out Platinex for $5 million.  The “KI 6” served sixty-eight days before a judge released them unconditionally on sentencing appeal. 

ABORIGINAL JUSTICE REFLECTION: Where do they fit?

October 11th, 2011
in:

At approximately 10:00 a.m., our delegation enters the Kenora museum.  We have decided to visit its permanent exhibit and take a historic walking tour through the town, led by a local theater troop and sponsored by the museum.  Since we arrived a few days ago, we have mostly met people from or close to Aboriginal communities in the area; we are wondering how the museum will integrate their side of the story.

ABORIGINAL JUSTICE: Delegations to Treaty #3 Territory (Northwestern Ontario) announced, 13-23 April, 10-20 August and 28 September-8 October 2012.

September 29th, 2011
in:

Corporate clear-cut logging of Asubpeeschoseewagong traditional territory has destroyed hunting, trapping, food, and medicine gathering activities.  Indian Residential Schools have deeply damaged families and communities.  Mercury contamination discovered over forty years ago continues to poison residents. 

Explore what it means to live in right relationship with the earth and each other.  Find out what it means to be an ally to indigenous communities engaged in healing, resisting colonialism, and struggling for sovereignty.  From a base in the city of Kenora, and through visits to Asubpeeschoseewagong traditional lands, the delegations will meet with and learn from Indigenous and non-Indigenous community leaders and residents.
 
Delegates will develop an analysis of colonialism, participate in undoing racism training and plan, and/or participate in events as allies in the struggle for justice and dignity for Indigenous peoples.

ABORIGINAL JUSTICE: Two First Nations celebrate small victories.

August 12th, 2011
in:

 The Algonquin First Nation of Barriere Lake is celebrating the suspension of work on its territory by mining company Cartier Resources Inc.  In March 2011, the community discovered ongoing copper mining exploration on their traditional lands.  When the Algonquins explained their opposition, the workers on site, mostly from Mistassini and Oujebougaou First Nations, stopped work and left.…

A recent community referendum in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) passed with 96% support for both a Watershed Declaration protecting Big Trout Lake, and a Consultation Protocol detailing the methodology the community will use in assessing development proposals on the rest of KI territory.…

ONTARIO: Government consultant supports concerns of Grassy Narrows community

July 18th, 2011
in:

 The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has recently released the results of an independent audit of the Whiskey Jack Forest, identifying numerous areas of concern in the forest's management. The audit is part of a regular monitoring process that tracks how logging companies are abiding by regulations and produces action plans to rectify bad practices and poor results. The Ministry of Natural Resources is engaged in land-use negotiations with Grassy Narrows First Nation (GNFN), whose traditional territory largely coincides with the Whiskey Jack Forest.

 The report reiterates many of GNFN's concerns over the destruction of their territory.  Since 2002, the community has blockaded a road used by logging trucks. CPT was invited to accompany the blockade, which supports a moratorium on clear-cut logging on traditional territory. The report, which covers much of the negotiation period, finds 'significant issues with management of the Whiskey Jack Forest, both in planning and in on-the-ground implementation of the plan' (page ii).  Its primary message is that the MNR has not done enough to repair the damage caused by industrial logging or to help the forest heal.

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CPTnet Stories

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Events

Title Start: End:
Aboriginal Justice delegation - Treaty #3 Area (Northwest Ontario) Fri, 08/10/2012 Mon, 08/20/2012
Aboriginal Justice delegation - Treaty #3 Area (Northwest Ontario) Fri, 09/28/2012 Mon, 10/08/2012