Mandatory Indigenous history training for lawyers 'incredibly important,' Alberta First Nation chief says
A First Nation chief is glad Alberta lawyers voted to maintain mandatory Indigenous awareness training, especially since it is an "incredibly important" call to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Tony Alexis of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation west of Edmonton said Wednesday he was "glad" that practicing lawyers reaffirmed the need to undergo Indigenous history training.
"There continues to be a widespread lack of awareness regarding the culture, history, traditions and rights of Indigenous Peoples and it should be addressed at every opportunity," Alexis said in a statement.
"Every place our People encounter this ignorance negatively impacts relations and outcomes, and in the courtroom this can have dire consequences for individuals, families and communities," he added.
On Monday, nearly 3,500 lawyers attended a special virtual meeting of the Law Society of Alberta. More than 2,600 voted in favour of requiring cultural sensitivity training.
The meeting was called after 51 lawyers signed a petition stating they opposed the training, which has been mandatory since 2020. A counter-petition garnered 400 signatures.
For Chief Alexis, mandatory training can also help encourage Indigenous People to take up the profession.
"It is important that people understand the law, but it is equally important that the law understands our People," he added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Have you been removed from your family doctor’s patient list for visiting an Ontario walk-in clinic?
Some Ontarians are expressing frustration after they said that they were removed from their family doctor’s patient list for visiting a walk-in clinic in a process being called “de-rostering.”
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Canadian government proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.