Evading racism: Commissions and inquiries into the relationship between the criminal justice system and Aboriginal peoples in Canada

Incidents that highlight injustices towards Aboriginal people have held the interest of the public and media sporadically across the decades; and governments have reluctantly responded. These incidents have been characterized by extreme interpersonal or systemic injustices against Aboriginal people. Governments have responded by appointing commissions and inquiries. However, these inquiries and commissions have tended to direct attention to the elements of the criminal justice system that relate to the incidents, or to the impacts of socio-economic disparity on Aboriginal communities that result in social problems.; This thesis will analyze the racism against Aboriginal people as an ideology that facilitated the processes of colonialism and continues to perpetuate the oppression of Aboriginal people. This ideology is also the underlying factor in the critical incidents that have come to the attention of governments and the public because they appear to provide a justification. Commissions and inquiries have either been unable or unwilling to address the underlying racism to date, particularly by misunderstanding the essential features of racism.; Racism is not the result of cultural misunderstanding, although that is how it is often presented. Evidence that a cultural sensitivity or diversity approach to addressing racism is insufficient can be found in the climbing crime statistics in Aboriginal populations. The key to addressing racism is to challenge the ignorance that is fostered and protected by white privilege. However, this approach is complicated by the fact that racism is not necessary a conscious and intentional attitude. In order to bring it to consciousness, there must be honest attempts to address racism as it really is. These attempts involve understanding the power roles in racism, and understanding that it has become incorporated into Canadian social structures and attitudes. This work will require an acceptance of responsibility, as opposed to blame, and the courage and determination of governments and people to confront racism directly.