ITK President Reacts to Treatment of Nunatsiavut Inmate with Mental Illness

Tuesday November 27, 2007 – Ottawa, Ontario – Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President Mary Simon responded to an article in today’s edition of the Ottawa Citizen with sadness and anger.“I am saddened that any person whether Inuit or non-Inuit had to endure these circumstances. I will not lay the blame at any specific doorstep except to say that we all must accept responsibility for the underlying conditions that lead to such a situation, and I am angry that similar circumstances have been reported in the Arctic before and the situation does not seem to be resolved. There are many root causes that end in such a depressing story. All of us, whether Governments, police forces, or health and social agencies on the ground have a role to play in ensuring that this kind of incident does not occur again.”

Mary Simon was reacting to the case of an Inuk woman in Nunatsiavut (Labrador) who, while in RCMP custody, was left naked in a cell, and was clothed only in a blanket for a meeting with her lawyer, in September of this year.

“The issue of mental illness is one all levels of society must become more sensitive to, and much more compassionate about,” said Mary Simon. “It is not right to leave inmates naked in their cells. It is not right to drape them in soiled blankets to meet with their lawyers. There appears to be a disconnect with basic humanity in this case, and it is heartbreaking to read in the newspaper today.”

“This underscores yet again the chronic need for facilities and support services to deal with those suffering from mental illnesses who encounter the justice system, especially in remote regions and communities,” concluded Mary Simon.

source:

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Stephen Hendrie
613-277-3178
hendrie@itk.ca