tarp presentation: law and justice and governance

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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:     jbull@tassc.ca

Website: www.tassc.ca

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