tarp presentation: law and justice and governance
TRANSCRIPT
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• Elder Opening• Welcome and Introductions• Presentation• Discussion and Q&A• Elder Closing and Blessing• Lunch
Overview of Session
TORONTO ABORIGINAL SUPPORT
SERVICES COUNCIL (TASSC)
Law and Justice and Aboriginal People&
Urban Aboriginal Governance
1st Annual Decolonizing Indigenous Health Research Conference
Love
Respect
Courage
Honesty
Wisdom
Humility
Truth
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Urban Aboriginal
Governance
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“Self-government means to be able to decide what is in our best interest…not the
government deciding this for us. It is about running our own affairs and running our own
lives.”
(Key Informant Interview)
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Federal Government recognizes policies on Aboriginal Governance
RCAP Recommends Urban Aboriginal Governance
Corbiere Decision
Provisional Aboriginal Council of Toronto
“All Voices Heard: The Toronto Urban Aboriginal Strategy”
City of Toronto formally supports Aboriginal Right to Self Govern
.
1995
1996
2000
2001
2010
2004
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strongly support
support somewhat support
somewhat oppose
strongly oppose
unsure/no opinion
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
CHART 15A: Support for Urban Aboriginal Self-Government
(Quantitative n=801)
Perc
enta
ge
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“Self-government means all the control being in the hands of the community and that elected
leaders listen to our voices in deciding where to spend the money.”
(Key Informant Interview)
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Difficult to put into practice
Lack of government recognition
Poor leadership
Lack of agency control over resources
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CHART 15C: Challenges to Aboriginal Self-Government in Toronto
(Qualitative n=119)
Percentage
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“When we are talking about self-government, don’t you have to get rid of the existing system
first? We are talking about self-governance in a system that goes against the whole idea of self-government. We are pandering and competing
for dollars that are tied to priorities that we didn’t agree to and that we often don’t want.”
(Governance Focus Group, Aboriginal Legal Services Toronto)
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“The youth are now a part of the change that is happening. They are seeing the similarities between people from different nations, and
from Métis, Inuit and First Nations peoples, and are not so divisive as adults. The youth may
hold the future for self-government.”
(Governance Focus Group)
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“The Aboriginal nations and cultural teachings in Toronto are very diverse. I am not sure how people could come together politically….but it
would be interesting to try.”
(Key Informant Interview)
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“People are unsure and quite fearful. They do not want another Indian Affairs in the city. They are very reluctant to trust in a leader and to try
something new.”
(Key Informant Interview)
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“TASSC is not appropriate as a governance body because they are social service agencies serving the community. We are support service organizations and as such we don’t want to be
politically involved. We want to support each other and not have TASSC become a political
machine.” (Governance Focus Group)
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“TASSC and its many Aboriginal agencies are controlling the delivery of services in Toronto and
they represent the community… they could evolve into a larger urban governance structure.”
(Governance Focus Group)
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Law and Justice &
Aboriginal People
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Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto established
Manitoba Justice Inquiry Report
Aboriginal Justice Strategy (Federal)
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
Criminal Code Amendment
R. v. Gladue
.
1990
1991
1996
1999
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male female two spirit0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Chart 14D: Aboriginal Involvement in the Toronto Justice System Across Gender (Quantiative n= 131)
victimoffender
Perc
enta
ge
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Housing
Poverty
Education
Employment
Gang/violence
Substance use
Low self esteem
Intergenerational trauma
Unstable childhood/trauma
Little contact with existing services
Disconnected from Aboriginal community
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0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Chart 14A: Level of Satisfaction With Justice System (Quantita-tive n=471)
Perc
enta
ge
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yes no unsure0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Chart 14B: Police and Security Guard Racial Profiling of Aboriginal People
(Quantitative n=493)
Police Racial Profiling of Aboriginal PeopleSecurity Guard Racial Profil-ing of Aboriginal People
Perc
enta
ge
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“Even if I have nothing to worry about, if I see the cops, I get worried. On the TTC or with the
cops, I always get worried.”
(Law and Justice Focus Group)
yes no unsure0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Chart 14C: Dimensions of Aboriginal Racial Profiling in the Justice System
(Quantitative n=500)
Undervaluing of Aboriginal victimsOvercharging of Aboriginal offenders
Perc
enta
ge
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“We’ve had many people that come to us to talk about the treatment they’ve received from police, and they will inevitably say that it is because they are Native.
The community members who are stopped by police feel that they are stopped because of who they are
and not what they’ve done.”
(Law and Justice Focus Group)
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“One major challenge for our clients is that judges and Crown attorneys are reluctant to change their
ways of doing things and are not updating themselves and trying to understand the Aboriginal situation and seriously engage with the meaning of
Gladue.”
(Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto Case Study)
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“There needs to be more culture in the mainstream system….more Elders in Jail and
smudging in the courts. Right now there is such a culture clash and we can get lost in
there and never get out.”
(Key Informant Interview)
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“Aboriginal clients have little understanding of how the legal system works. There is definitely a need for more Aboriginal probation officers to
help the youth with their legal issues.”
(Key Informant Interview)
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• Wrapping up
Consent
CooperationConsultation
Communication
Consent
CooperationConsultation
CommunicationCollaboratio
n
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www.tassc.caNakkumek Miigwetch Thank you
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Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council
16 Spadina Road
Toronto, ON M5R 2S7
Phone: (647) 748-6100
Fax: (647) 748-0699
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.tassc.ca
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