Bridging a cultural divide.

During its public hearings held across the country, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People (RCAP) made a strong commitment to bring the voices of the people to the attention of the public and of the governments in Canada. Commenting upon the prison system in Canada, the late elder Art Solomon told us his view of the system; ‘it is an evil empire, a blasphemy in the face of God...’ The prison system is only one part of the so-called ‘criminal justice system’ and the RCAP concluded essentially that the system is criminal in its effects upon Aboriginal people. Recently an Anishanaabe leader commented ‘there is no justice for Aboriginal people in Canada...’