2012-07-20 Laliberte: Answer to question from Complaints Officer re competency of submissions
George Laliberte
211 Avenue R South
Saskatoon SK
S7M 2Y9 Ph: (306) 979 9315
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July 20, 2012
TO: John H.B. McIntosh
Law Society of Saskatchewan
Designated Complaints Officer
#201-12 Cheadle St West
Swift Current, SK S9H 0A9
Ph: (306) 778 5240
RE: Timothy Froese and George Laliberte: Law Society File # 80-11818
Dear John McIntosh:
Thank-you for your letter dated July 5, 2012.
In reply to your suggestion “it would be useful to me to know who may have given you any such guidance . . . ”
It will come as no surprise that many First Nations people have gained a lot of experience working within the criminal justice system, in the process gaining thorough knowledge of the law. At the same time, we have numerous relatives who are now First Nations lawyers and Judges that we can turn to for legal advice. I am little familiar with it myself through personal experience working as a First Nations advocate for many years, including being entangled with the law and becoming incarcerated myself in my younger days.
Between that and the fact that there’s always someone who is good at internet research, processes such as “examination for discovery” are becoming common vocabulary for people who frequently have had to deal with the courts, especially First Nations people, survivors of Residential School System. And as such it is no longer the case that “Some of the terms you use, for example, examination for discovery, would ordinarily only be used by or known to lawyers.”
I consider it a compliment your statement “perhaps has contributed to (my) correspondence being so well written from a legal perspective”. I am good at conveying and expressing ideas, I am not well versed in writing them down. And so I had my friend Robert Ballantyne draft my intentions as to be effective and concise in expressing my grievance. Robert has many years experience working as an advocate for Aboriginal peoples in trouble with the law up North, and also has a University degree. With him and a few supportive allies, we collaborate on the wording/drafting of my grievance. With our current communication technology, electronic email correspondence means that we can share documents quite easily, as more heads are always better than one.
In the early stages I did not know which way to turn, I just didn’t want to deal with it period. It was very upsetting and I became very depressed by the whole situation. Robert made me come to grips with things. He said we should no longer allow the dominant society and its institutions use First Nations people as pawns in their agenda to advance themselves. We have to stand up in order to defend/protect our dignities as individuals and as a Nation and stop the “victimization”.
I hope this answers your questions, if you have further inquiries I am always on a standby to respond to your investigation. Thank you.
Yours in harmony & wellness,
__________________
George Laliberte
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