Gov't expands northern court translation service (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

Gov't expands northern court translation service

Betty Ann Adam
The StarPhoenix

Monday, November 21, 2005
http://www.canada.com/saskatoon/starphoenix/news/local/story.html?id=0db5404d-4a12-41bb-92d7-8b06345a2d12

Full-time Cree and Dene translators will soon be working in northwestern
Saskatchewan courts.

The Aboriginal Provincial Court Party, as it will be known, will be
based in Meadow Lake and will travel to other communities in
northwestern Saskatchewan. It will be in place by the end of this
fiscal year, said Justice Department spokesperson Debbie McEwen.

The expanded translation service is one of several initiatives outlined
earlier this year in the government's response to the aboriginal
justice reform commission, which in 2004 recommended changes to improve
justice services to Natives in Saskatchewan.

The government has also promised to appoint a Cree-speaking Justice of
the Peace to a Cree community and a Dene justice of the peace to a Dene
community.

In an effort to increase the number of aboriginal people serving as
jurors, the province will also increase the fee paid for jury duty and
"provide increased resources for transportation and mileage to court
for potential jurors, where necessary," the government's report states.

The Saskatchewan provincial court has provided a Cree court since 2001,
which has a Cree-speaking judge to hear matters in that language eight
days per month at four sites. The prosecutor and court clerk also speak
Cree.

Dene translation services are currently available at court points served
from La Ronge. Cree and Dene translation services are also available in
Prince Albert and at court points served from Prince Albert.

The government will add locations for provincial courts in more First
Nations and Metis communities where the workload warrants it and where
suitable court facilities are available.

The Justice Department also promised to consult with aboriginal
communities and the provincial court about installing appropriate
cultural symbols in the Meadow Lake and La Ronge provincial court
buildings.

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2005