eevarvegt1 © «12:@8-——KATERI TEK@KUITHA CHLRCH > 16132376129 No.94s 22 remy pete es KaTERI TEKAKWITHA ABORIGINAL CATHOLIC PaRisH 548 HOME STREET, WINNIPEG, MB’ R3G 1X7 PHONE (204) 783-7215 * Fax (204) 783-4851 Do ve bar 16,2011 ‘The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, ?.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada 80 Wellinjton Streot Ottawa, ON KLA 0A2 .. Dea Mr. Prime Minister, 41am addressing you this leuer os a member of the Aboriginal Catholic Community of ‘Winnipeg, Manitoba. As Aboriginal People we are the ones who are the most affected by the changes you are bringing to the Justice System by passing Bills that are short-sighted and counter-productive, We wish to voice our support to the letter dated! October J, 2010, sent to you by Bishop Gary Gordon, Building more prisons will not salve problems in our society; all it will do is expond the “prison industry”. This codeavour moves us backwards; what we eed is a change in our justice system, which will work at bringing healing to individuals as well as to communities affected by erime, We are devastated by the increasing “criminalization of people” your government is creating through its “tough on crime” stance. We know, just as you know that th policies have already becn tricd in the USA and bave failed miserably. hoy have abandoned some of these policies and are now trying to build commonity rather than creating laws that cause mére people to be incarcereted and/or be incarcerated for a Jonger time, Laws that are “one sizé fits all” reflect a spirit that is vindictive nad blind to justice. ‘We kaow, just as you know that by incarcerating miore peuple for longer times does not increase safety in our communities. Ouc prisons arc super-full— we are warchousing people and leaving them in inhumane and dangerous situations, Our prisons offer no help to the residents to prepare them to become belier and conteibuting members of sociely. Rather, they leave trustrated, angry facing a future that is dismal. May you briag into your entourage people who ure visionary, exeative and compassionate and may you have the courage to change the course of your decisions, Cb» pacer Lavere Gs himeded