In a report released Thursday, Canada’s correctional investigator is giving the country’s prison system a failing grade for how it deals with incarcerated aboriginals.
According to the report, one in four prisoners across Canada are aboriginal – a staggering number considering only four per cent of the country’s population is First Nations.
However, in Saskatchewan, that number jumps to 55 per cent. Some provincial leaders said the truth behind these numbers goes beyond socio-economic factors. According to some, people’s perceptions of First Nations people are reflected in the justice system.
“I don’t want to say they are, but I’m sure we all know what they are,” said FSIN vice-chief Bobby Cameron.
The report chastised the government for how it deals with aboriginals in jail, as well as for failing to keep them out of jail in the first place.
The John Howard society is an advocacy group for prisoners. According to their executive director, the social perceptions around aboriginal incarceration need to part of the public discourse.
“We have to say racism out loud,” said Shaun Dyer. “I think there is a disrespect and a disregard for aboriginal people.”
Dyer added that the issue is complex and will take generations to correct.
FSIN wants to work with the federal government to create more healing lodges in the province and to transfer more inmates to First Nations communities. However, today in the House of Commons Prime Minister Stephen Harper said people in prison are there for a reason.
