Circuit courts in Manitoba First Nations have resumed after being suspended this spring as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manitoba’s provincial court consulted First Nations that host circuit court sittings prior to their resumption to ensure that bringing judges and other members of the court into the communities would not increase their members’ risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus.
“I continue to applaud our chiefs for their ongoing vigilance in combating the occurrence and transmission of COVID-19 within our First Nations, while maintaining and making available many of the day-to-day services within public health guidelines and protocols,” said Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) Grand Chief Arlen Dumas. “While safety is always of top priority going into the fall season, we know that there must be a balance struck in providing legal and judicial services in concert with the need of First Nations to continue their mitigation efforts against the global pandemic. I commend all of our leadership, more specifically Chief Marie Wood of St. Theresa Point who resumed the first circuit court sitting since the pandemic began, not only for her collaborative approach to the courts issue, but on her and all chiefs’ determination to keep the novel coronavirus from entering any of our First Nations in Manitoba. ”
Provincial court Chief Judge Margaret Wiebe said working with First Nations leadership was key to the resumption of circuit court sittings.
“The safety of all participants, in the First Nations as well as the court party and participants, was paramount in our collaborative work,” said Wiebe. “The attention to detail, the mutual respect and collaborative approach demonstrated between all parties involved was fundamental to proceeding with the openings. I would particularly like to acknowledge the community leadership in St. Theresa Point, who along with Judge Martin, the court party and court administration have created a model for other circuit court openings.”
Dumas said the willingness of Wiebe to work with AMC and First Nations to ensure a safe reopening of circuit courts was appreciated.
“Our chiefs have worked hard to ensure that our First Nations territories in Manitoba are one of the few regions of that country that have not been affected by COVID-19,” said Dumas. “I expect that this will continue to be the case with the re-opening of the circuit court.”
