MAKIVIK WELCOMES OMBUDSMAN REPORT TITLED «DETENTION CONDITIONS, ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AND CRIME PREVENTION IN NUNAVIK»
On February 18, 2016, the Québec Ombudsman released its report titled «Detention Conditions, Administration of Justice and Crime Prevention in Nunavik».
Makivvik welcomes this report and hopes that its publication will help bring concrete solutions to the long-standing issues it raises. The administration of justice and related services in Nunavik has been the subject of recommendations by various committees, task forces and working groups for over four decades. However, the expected results have never been achieved.
All the fundamental issues regarding justice and social regulation in Nunavik are also identified in the 2014 Parnasimautik Consultation Report. Presentations on the Parnasimautik Consultation Report were made to a group of Québec-government ministers in Quebec City in August and to the Minister of Justice and the Minister responsible for Native Affairs in Kuujjuaq in October.
In 2015 Makivvik adopted a resolution to make it clear that concrete action is needed urgently to bolster the confidence of Nunavimmiut in the administration of justice and in accordance with the rights of Nunavik Inuit under the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement.
Jobie Tukkiapik, the President of the Makivvik, says: « The Québec Ombudsman report comes at the right time, as action is urgently needed. The situation of overcrowding in detention cells and the conditions it creates are totally unacceptable and needs to be corrected right away. The justice system needs to better adapt to our reality and we need more culturally adapted programs for the Nunavik Inuit detainees if we want them to be better equipped when they reintegrate our communities. Makivvik has been lobbying the government for a long time so that improvement be made in the different fields covered by the Ombudsman report. We need to see more progress.».
Makivvik reaffirms its willingness to work with its regional partners as well as with the government in order to improve the situation. Makivvik will continue to be involved in a number of initiatives aiming at improving the well-being of the Nunavik Inuit.
Jobie Tukkiapik also mentioned: «Makivvik will continue to push towards improving the socio- judicial development of Nunavik. The justice committees program is one major initiative that we undertook and that can bring more tangible results if sufficient resources are devoted to it. The implementation of the Saqijuq project for the reconstruction of the social regulation in our communities is also a priority for our region.»
For more information:
William Tagoona, Communications Coordinator and Media relations wtagoona@makivik.org
819-964-2925
The Makivvik is a not-for-profit corporation mandated to manage the heritage funds of the Inuit of Nunavik Provided for in the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement. Makivvik ́s role includes the administration and investment of these funds, and the promotion of economic growth by providing assistance for the creation of Inuit-operated businesses in Nunavik. Makivvik promotes the preservation of Inuit culture and language as well as the health, welfare, relief of poverty and education of Inuit In Nunavik communities.