Nearly 50 years ago, Donald Marshall Jr. of the Membertou First Nation community, was wrongfully convicted for the murder of Sandy Seale, a Black Nova Scotian.
The case brought light to the systemic racism present in the Canadian Criminal Justice System and sparked community-driven change toward justice.
In 1989, the Marshall Commission was formed with the aim of improving representation of Black and Indigenous issues in the court system.聽 Now-retired AV俱乐部 professor Donald Clairmont served on this commission, bringing the impact of academics into the conversation.
鈥淒on鈥檚 research was integral to the Marshall Report,鈥� said L. Jane McMillan, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Communities. 鈥淢arshall and Clairmont wanted to ensure no one would ever be wrongfully imprisoned again and it remains a great pleasure to continue his work.鈥�
Paving the way
Dr. McMillan was one of six panelists at a Dal 200 event last Wednesday evening (April 4), reflecting on Dr. Clairmont鈥檚 contribution and highlighting issues of justice in sociology and social anthropology for Black and Mi鈥檏maq Nova Scotians.
She was joined by Dal faculty members Afua Cooper (outgoing James R. Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies) Michelle Williams (director, Indigenous Blacks & Mi鈥檏maq Initiative, Schulich School of Law) and Diana Lewis (coordinator, Indigenous Studies program). Together with Pictou Landing First Nation Director of Education Sheila Francis and African Nova Scotian leader and activist Lynn Jones, they discussed how far we have come and what is still left to do to move toward reconciliation.
At the recommendation of the Marshall Commission, AV俱乐部 sought to address racism in the justice system through the establishment of the Indigenous Blacks and Mi鈥檏maq (IB&M) Initiative at the Schulich School of Law. The program aims to reduce structural racism by increasing representation in the legal profession.
聽鈥淭he Marshall Commission was built on the sacrifices others made. These efforts paved the way for the IB&M initiative,鈥� said Prof. Williams, current director of the initiative.
Before the IB&M was established in 1989, not one Mi鈥檏maq lawyer came through AV俱乐部. Now, as AV俱乐部 celebrates its 200th anniversary, the IB&M Initiative is set to celebrate its 200th graduate from the program.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very hard to understate the impact of this program. Our alumni work as a collective network tackling systemic issues, and are a point of access to the community,鈥� said Prof. Williams, reflecting on the success of the program. 鈥淏ut despite our successes, we need to continue to work. The needs are greater now than ever.鈥�
Racism and reflection
Echoing her sentiment were Diana Lewis and Sheila Francis, both members of the Pictou Landing Native Women鈥檚 Association.The pair is involved in a research study on the health impacts of the pollution in 鈥淏oat Harbour鈥� and work to share the story of A鈥檚e鈥檏.
鈥淎鈥檚e鈥檏 was where people went to eat, to socialize. But after 1965, it became what it is now,鈥� said Francis. She showed pictures of water turning from clear to brown, and astonishing loss of biodiversity.
鈥淏oat Harbour was created from racism and discrimination. It鈥檚 not just the loss of water, it鈥檚 the loss of a lifestyle for our people.鈥�
The pair told their story to a room with open ears, but it was not until recently that they were able to do so.
鈥淣o one wanted to hear our story,鈥� said Francis, shining light on the racism and denial still in place today.
A鈥檚e鈥檏 is just one example of the work that needs to be done.
鈥淢any of the Marshall Commission鈥檚 recommendations have yet to be implemented,鈥� said Prof. Williams. 鈥淭here are no specific restorative justice programs. Black and Indigenous peoples are still overrepresented in the criminal justice system.鈥�
Dr. McMillan continued with a call to action. 鈥淚f we as settlers are to have some hope at building relationships, racist intolerance at all levels must come down.鈥�