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
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.