President's Corner
Posted on: Jul 29, 2024
Dear Citizens,
On May 23, 2024, we launched our petition, advocating for critical reforms to the Parole Board of Canada (PBC).
This initiative was born out of the tragic events of 2020, where Maurice Cardinal and his nephew, Jacob Sansom, were tragically killed by Anthony Bilodeau while exercising their harvesting rights.
In a deeply concerning decision, Anthony’s father, Roger Bilodeau, was granted day parole by the PBC in February this year.
I’m proud to share that our petition, sponsored by Blake Desjarlais, the Member of Parliament for Edmonton Griesbach, has garnered nearly 2,000 signatures as of late July.
The petition emphasizes the need for transformative changes in the PBC’s case hearing procedures. Our specific demands include the implementation of cultural training for board members and the involvement of the victim’s community in hearings, especially when the victim is Indigenous, and their Indigeneity may have influenced the offense.
This initiative is just one piece of our ongoing work to advocate for justice and the protection of our community’s rights. As we look forward to the rest of the summer, we remain dedicated to building a future that honours our people.
Together, we will continue to make strides towards a brighter future for all members of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. If you have not signed the petition, please click the following link to add your name to our call for much-needed change.
Sincerely,
President Andrea Sandmaier