Indigenous overrepresentation in the criminal justice system will be the topic of discussion at a Prince Albert seminar next week.
The Gladue Awareness Project seminar will take place July 3-4 at the Government of Saskatchewan Building on Central Avenue.
Michelle Brass, who is overseeing the project for the Native Law Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, says the seminar has been structured with the understanding the public’s general knowledge of the historic Gladue case is varied.
“Within the seminar, I kind of have to keep in mind the vast array, whether it be someone who knows very little to someone who knows quite a bit and then trying to feed off of their knowledge,” she says.
Overall, Brass says the seminar will be as much about gathering ideas on Gladue as imparting information.
“People who know a lot about the Gladue case, I want to know what their experience is and then try to get ideas from all groups about how we can make the use of Gladue much more effective throughout the province.”
In its landmark 1999 Gladue decision, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled an Indigenous offender’s background should be taken into account when determining sentencing and restorative justice measures outside of incarceration considered.
The Gladue Awareness Project has already been to La Ronge and will also make stops in the Kahkewistahaw and Keeseekoose First Nations, North Battleford, Duck Lake, Meadow Lake and La Loche before the end of the year.
(PHOTO: Native Law Centre logo. Photo courtesy of law.usask.ca)