Canadian Jewish Congress article

Native Injustice “Template” for Canadian Discrimination: CJCPR Chair In a recent major address to a symposium on hate-motivated crimes, CJC Pacific Region Chair Mark Weintraub urged Canadians to address the festering injustice perpetrated against First Nations in order to facilitate justice for all.

“We need to reverse the tendency to add racism against Aboriginal peoples to the end of the list of concerns and congratulate ourselves for even thinking about these issues,” Weintraub told a packed audience of police, Crown counsel, politicians and others at the forum, which was sponsored by the Justice Institute of B.C. “Rather, we could benefit by considering how relations with Aboriginal peoples perhaps provided a template for how subsequent minority populations have been treated.”

Weintraub spoke of the history of discrimination against Aboriginal Canadians and praised the communities’ patience.

“In light of all this,” Weintraub said, “we should think ourselves fortunate that there still remains a wellspring of generosity within Aboriginal communities to meet any sincere attempt at reconciliation.”