Indigenous musician Jonathan Wayne Lee Anderson from Edmonton was taken off life support last Saturday, after fatally injuring himself while being held at the Edmonton Remand Center. “The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) has called for strict limits on the use of detention for remand due to overcrowding and dangerous conditions. This is even more urgent during the … Read more
In response to the danger of COVID-19 spreading in Canada’s over-crowded prison systems, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples shared a letter with Canada’s premiers and attorney generals, calling on them to prioritize the release of low-risk offenders to limit transmission of the virus. The congress further calls on premiers and attorney generals to take steps … Read more
Despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s (Papineau, Que.) claims to be addressing Indigenous needs in COVID-19 response planning, meetings have included only three out of five National Indigenous Organizations. These meetings have excluded the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and the Native Women’s Association of Canada. “Excluding CAP from these discussions endangers lives in off-reserve and non-Status Indigenous communities” according to CAP National Chief … Read more
“Coronavirus has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, and threatens devastating effects on Canada’s Federal and provincial prison system,” said Kim Beaudin, National Vice Chief, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. “A pandemic in federal and provincial prisons would have devastating repercussions to the health and the lives of prisoners and staff, in particular … Read more
The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is calling for an inquest into the suicide death of Curtis McKenzie, a member of Lac La Ronge First Nation Indian Band in Saskatchewan, while in the custody of Correctional Services Canada. CAP National Vice-Chief, Kim Beaudin, said: “I am deeply disturbed about what has happened to Curtis. I know that he cried … Read more
On March 12, First Ministers will meet with National Indigenous Organizations (NIO) chosen by government to discuss issues affecting Indigenous people. These meetings will exclude those NIOs representing Métis, Status and non-Status Indians, and Southern Inuit Indigenous people living off-reserve, and those representing Indigenous women, who have historically been invited to these discussions. “We are demanding nothing more than … Read more
The proportion of Indigenous people behind bars has hit a record high, according to new figures from Dr. Ivan Zinger, the Correctional Investigator of Canada. “Canada locks up Indigenous people at a rate six times higher than the rest of the population. That is shameful,” notes Congress of Aboriginal Peoples’ National Chief Robert Bertrand. Both CAP … Read more
The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples issued a statement: “On Jan. 1, 2020, Bill C-92, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, came into force. The stated purpose of this legislation is “to affirm the rights and jurisdiction of Indigenous peoples in relation to child and family services.” This legislation fails to acknowledge … Read more
Indigenous homelessness in Canadian cities remains a crisis that needs effective action from all levels of government. At the December 2019 Special Chiefs Assembly, The Assembly of First Nations announced it would extend homeless services for Indigenous populations living off-reserve. This move will create jurisdictional issues and will mean services will not meet the needs … Read more
British Columbia has introduced legislation that puts it on track to becoming the first Canadian government to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP). “This is a positive step towards putting Canada’s international commitments into practice,” says National Chief Robert Bertrand. “By ensuring their laws respect internationally-recognized Indigenous rights, British Columbia is … Read more
