MN-S PMC members responses to questions about the Justice Project

How will you know this body is a success?

• Restorative not punitive justice.

• The tribunal must be reliable; fluid, transparent and consistent.

• There will be reliable, compassionate  people in the tribunal who are there to help ensure:

  • Our values are there;

  • Important people in our lives, such as our grandparents and elders have rights;

  • The tribunal must be non judgemental as we raise grandchildren (future generations);

  • The land is looked after.

• Process is knowable; relationships build community.

• Sharing circle to get full story; not just law facts:

  • Speaks to community’s truth;

  • If they trusted the PMC, they would trust the tribunal as long as they feel involved and included.

• The tribunal is transparent; we MUST have experts running this body!

  • Hand picked experts in their fields;

  • Social services do not need to be involved.

• Why does the tribunal have the final say?

  • When people have self trust then they know to come here to be included;

  • When you build it, they will come.

• Success must be worthiness in us, in our leaders:

  • Find something positive;

  • If it shows progress, we will continue to believe in ourselves.

How would leadership know the adjudication body is trustworthy ?

• The body will be transparent and independent:

  • Good listening skills, factual, emotional, technical;

  • We will “feel’ the system is right.

• Needs to have empathy:

  • We use it! And trust it;

  • We trust it if we felt involved (included).

• Insecurity means anger- lets fix that:

  • If leaders trust it others will.

• If we were all on the same page and working to a common goal:

  • Build this - keep investing in it;

  • It reflects community independence.

How is this body “cultural”?

• Community based, has culture in process:

  • Distinctive in how we treat each other.

• Identity is cultural, we want to tell our own stories (agency):

  • Language; distinction based;

  • We know we are familiar/families;

  • We will feel it is Métis;

  • Based on kinship;

  • We have voice.

• No one size fits all approach:

  • Witnessed in the room- youth jury gave a story of this in the north;

  • Metis fiddle song to start court;

  • Space for families to be part to meeting.

• Structures in MNS will be rebuilt.

  • We restore our communities;

  • Need locals with a role/voice.

• It is restorative.

  • Registry says who is Métis;

  • Old laws - we knew our ways and our people; our traplines, fish lines, berry patches; our laws and punishments.

  • If developed with the right mindset; the tribunal will use laws of the hunt.

• Responsibility is part of this:

  • We must be able to stand on our own two feet;

  • We stop what is not working.

• It must be cultural.

  • Base it on our distinctions, whatever those might be to each of us.

  • Provide access to our children to learn our ways  through stories; flags; music; Elders; knowledge keepers.