Aboriginal Jury Report Released Today

A former Supreme Court of Canada justice today delivers
a report on whether on-reserve aboriginals have been systematically excluded from Ontario’s juries.
First Nations leaders hope Frank Iacobucci comes up with
recommendations to fix a broken system.
Alvin Fiddler, Deputy Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, says aboriginals have known for years the problem needed to be dealt with.
Fiddler says native accused seldom see a member of their own
community on the jury.
The lack of on-reserve aboriginals on juries at one point
paralyzed criminal proceedings amid allegations the rights of First Nations accused were being trampled.
In August of 2011, the province asked Iacobucci to look into the problem.
The report will be released in Thunder Bay.
(Picture: Alvin Fiddler)