The Aboriginal Justice Implementation Commission was established by the Manitoba Government on November 29, 1999, to be:

The Commissioners are Wendy Whitecloud and Paul Chartrand. Elders are Eva McKay and Doris Young.

• Providing a report on the current status of implementation of the recommendations of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry in the areas for which the Manitoba Government is responsible and accountable.
• Consulting with Manitobans on priority areas for action.
• Consulting with Manitobans on implementation strategies.
• Providing the Manitoba Government with recommendations on practical, cost-effective and attainable, implementation and funding strategies in the priority areas as those recommendations are developed.

In carrying out its work, the Commission is required to keep in mind the Framework Agreement, entered into between Canada and First Nations and the Reports of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.

The Commission made three recommendations concerning the following areas:

• Young Offenders,
• Aboriginal Employment Strategy, and
• Policing.

Those recommendations are attached as Schedules 1 to 3.

The Commission continued to work in the priority areas it established through consultation with Manitobans. Those priority areas are:

The Commission has posted the following consultation papers on its website and intends to post other consultation papers as they are completed:

• Aboriginal Justice College
• Aboriginal Employment Strategy
• Aboriginal Policing in Manitoba
• Making Aboriginal Issues Matter in the Government of Manitoba
• Recognition, Reconciliation and Healing
• Trust Responsibility and the Co-ordination of Aboriginal Issues in the United States: Potential Applications in Canada
• Towards a Mètis Policy
• Report on Domestic Violence Policies and Their Impact on Aboriginal People

The Commission continued its deliberations and meetings with representatives of Aboriginal organizations, government officials and experts to develop recommendations in its priority areas. The Commission has also continued discussions with the consultant retained to conduct a survey of the political leadership in Aboriginal organizations to comment on Commission priorities and tentative approaches.

Commission staff was invited and attended the Island Lake Justice Conference at Wasagamack First Nation on March 12 to 14, 2001. A presentation on the Aboriginal Justice Implementation Commission was made to the community and Commission staff noted their concerns with regards to the Justice issues.

The Commission also met with the Joint Management Committee of the AJI-Child Welfare Initiative and discussed the progress of the initiative.

Introduction

The Commission’s current mandate has been extended to June 30, 2001. The Commission, over the next quarter, will be engaged in continuing consultations and communicating with Government departments and Aboriginal organizations to work together towards recommendations for implementation.