Deaths of Indigenous people in Atlantic Canadian jails spark calls for review, change

 By Sarah Smellie THE CANADIAN PRESS Recent deaths of several First Nations people in Atlantic Canadian jails have prompted calls for Indigenous-led inquiries and systemic change in the justice system. Groups focused on women and justice in Nova Scotia are calling for Mi’kmaq-led inquiries into the deaths this year of two First Nations people, 36-year-old Sarah Rose Denny and 27-year-old Peter Paul, in the provincial justice system. In New Brunswick, the Wolastoqey Nation is calling for an Indigenous-led inquiry into systemic racism in the justice system after the conclusion Thursday of an inquest into the death of 28-year-old Skyler Sappier. “We know that Indigenous people, particularly Indigenous women, are the fastest-growing prison population in Canada. We know that’s because we have failed Indigenous people so badly for so long,” said…

Add Your Voice

Is there more to this story? We'd like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Contribute your voice on our contribute page.