Report on the Cariboo-Chilcotin Justice Inquiry. --

Cover title.

Running title: Cariboo-Chilcotin Justice Inquiry.

Submitted to the Attorney General.

Commissioner: Anthony Sarich.

Includes bibliographical references: p. 44.

BC Royal Commission document scanned by LLBC.

Judge Sarich was asked to investigate the relationship between the Cariboo-Chilcotin First Nations peoples and the justice community. The First Nations peoples had alleged that they were subject to prejudice and unfair treatment. "The purpose of this Inquiry [was] not to initiate disciplinary action against any individual or group. Rather, the Commissioner [was to] ascertain the factors which gave rise to such allegations of unfair treatment, prejudice, or the use of unnecessary or excessive force, determine the extent to which such problems [existed] in the administration of justice in the Cariboo-Chilcotin Region, and make recommendations for their rectification." (Order in Council no. 1508/92, Schedule: Terms of Reference). The entire justice system, including police, crown prosecutors, courts, probation officers and family court counsellors, was to be scrutinized. The Commission concluded that the "Native people have not been well served by the process of justice of non-native society." (p. 18). He recommended ways to address the inequities, to improve police-community relations, and to respond to specific cultural needs of aboriginal people within the justice system. On behalf of the Province, the Attorney General officially apologized to the Chilcotin people for the Chilcotin War and the hanging of the Chilcotin Chiefs in 1864. The Attorney General also asked Marion Buller to carry out a province-wide consultation on aboriginal legal services to address the specific legal service issues and requirements of the province's aboriginal peoples. Her report "A review of legal services to aboriginal peoples in British Columbia", was published in 1994.