TORONTO - The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centre has launched a new series of podcasts that highlight the challenges facing the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in Canada’s justice system.
“The criminal justice system is not working for our people and that must change,” said Jennifer Dockstader, President, Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres. “It is vital that Ontarians and the entire legal community understand the complex nature of what Indigenous people experience when dealing with the justice system. This podcast helps us share these important perspectives to a wider audience in our traditional way of oral storytelling.”
Restoring Indigenous Humanity is a six-episode series that includes an introduction which addresses the overall scope of the systemic injustices that Indigenous people face. Then each episode is dedicated to four different Friendship Centres across the province: Toronto Council Fire, Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre (Peterborough), Brantford Regional Indigenous Support Centre, and United Native Friendship Centre (Fort Frances). The last episode concludes the series.
“The Restoring Indigenous Humanity podcast project allows Friendship Centres to focus on the realities that our urban Indigenous community faces within the justice system,” says Sheila McMahon, Executive Director, United Native Friendship Centre.
The Podcasts cover a range of topics that include advocacy and support for women going through the justice system, the failure to protect victims of intimate partner violence, personal experiences with the justice system, bail and its impact on victims, shelters for victims of domestic violence, the 2SLBGTQ+ experience interacting with binary mainstream justice processes, lack of access to court services in remote areas, and the variety of support programming offered at Friendship Centres and in communities.
To access the podcast, click on the link: Restoring Indigenous Humanity.
