Indigenous Human Rights

Jamie McGinnis: Discrimination on Public Transit – Nakogee v. North Bay Transit

A new episode from the Indigenous Human Rights Podcast! Our hosts, Daniel Jolic and Brianna Brumen, talk to lawyer Jamie McGinnis from the Human Rights Legal Support Centre, who represented the Nakogees at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario in their fight for justice against the North Bay Transit Service. We examine the discrimination that the Nakogees endured while attempting to access a public transit bus, and the strength it took for them to speak out against this discrimination. We also highlight the work they undertook with Ms. McGinnis and the Human Rights Legal Support Centre to hold North Bay Transit accountable. Discussed: Indigenous Human Rights, Government Discrimination, Discrimination on Transit, Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, Human Rights Legal Support Centre, Successful Human Rights ClaimsMusic: Ross Bugden, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.

Jennifer Hawn and Andrew Camman: Discrimination in the Workplace – Kenney v. Thames Valley District School Board

A new episode from the Indigenous Human Rights Podcast! Our hosts, Daniel Jolic and Brianna Brumen, talk to Jennifer Hawn and Andrew Camman, the lawyers who represented Billy Kenney at the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal in his quest for justice. Ms. Hawn and Mr. Camman outline the discrimination Mr. Kenney faced while teaching at the Thames Valley District School Board, and how he was inadequately supported by his employer after he reported that discrimination. We also discuss their experience representing Mr. Kenney at the tribunal’s hearing, and their success not only in securing monetary damages for their client but also in ensuring systemic change at the school board. We also examine the steps folks can take if they are experiencing discrimination from their employer.Discussed: Indigenous Human Rights, Workplace Discrimination, Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, Successful Human Rights ClaimsMusic: Ross Bugden, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.

Jen Danch: Human Rights 101 – An Overview of the Tribunal System

Our first episode from the latest season of the Indigenous Human Rights Podcast! Our hosts, Daniel Jolic and Brianna Brumen, talk to Jen Danch, a human rights lawyer at Swadron Associates. Ms. Danch previously served at the Ontario Human Rights Commission advancing its advocacy on racial profiling, barriers to employment for refugees and the Right to Read Inquiry. In this episode, Ms. Danch discusses the role that the Ontario and Canadian Human Rights Tribunals, the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and the Human Rights Legal Support Centre play in addressing discrimination. She explains how people who have faced discrimination can bring forward their grievances to the tribunal system. She also explains what supports are available from the Human Rights Legal Support Centre for Indigenous folks. To access some of the resources that Ms. Danch referenced in the episode, please visit https://hrlsc.on.ca/indigenous-services/. Discussed: Indigenous Human Rights, Discrimination, Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, Ontario Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Legal Support CentreMusic: Ross Bugden, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.

Cindy Blackstock: Fighting for Equality in Family and Child Services

An episode from the back catalogue! We talk with Dr. Cindy Blackstock, a member of the Gitxsan First Nation, the Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, and a professor at McGill University’s School of Social Work. She will spotlight the CHRT decision First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada et al. v. Attorney General of Canada (for the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada), where First Nations children and families received $23.34 billion in settlement funds for the denial of equal family and child services. Dr. Blackstock discusses her experience working on this case alongside the children that were impacted, the access to justice issues that arose, the systematic discrimination that laid the groundwork for this decision, and the future of Indigenous child welfare. Discussed: Indigenous child welfare, systemic discrimination, access to justice, human rightsMusic: Ross Bugden, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.

Sheryl Lightfoot: UNDRIP and Human Rights Tribunals

An episode from the back catalogue! We talk to Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot, a citizen of the Lake Superior Band of Ojibwe (enrolled at the Keweenaw Bay Community), a professor at the University of British Columbia, and one of the world’s leading experts in global Indigenous politics, serving as the North American member on the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Dr. Lightfoot discusses the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and its implementation in Canada. Dr. Lightfoot explains what UNDRIP is, how Canada is implementing this international instrument, and how UNDRIP interacts with the human rights tribunal system in Canada. Discussed: UNDRIP Implementation, International Indigenous law, human rights, tribunalsMusic: Ross Bugden, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.