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Manitoba appoints first associate chief judge for reconciliation
Ryle will help lead court policy and education as Manitoba seeks to address Indigenous overrepresentation in the justice system, officials said.
On Friday, the Manitoba government appointed Judge Jerilee Ryle as the province's first associate chief judge for reconciliation, a historic role announced by Justice Minister Matt Wiebe.
Ryle's appointment addresses systemic overrepresentation: Statistics Canada data shows Indigenous people comprised about 78 per cent of adults in Manitoba custody during 2023-2024, compared to 18 per cent of the provincial population.
Chief Judge Ryan Rolston spearheaded the new position, tasking Ryle with engaging First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities to reflect their perspectives in court processes; her seven-year term begins July 2.
Grand Chief Kyra Wilson expressed confidence that Ryle will ensure courts are "responsive, culturally informed and respectful of First Nations perspectives, traditions and lived experiences." Ryle said she hopes other jurisdictions follow Manitoba's lead.
Niigaan Sinclair, an Anishinaabe professor whose father chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, noted lawyers and judges have been "chronically undereducated" on Indigenous rights. Ryle acknowledged the path ahead is "not always an easy one" but necessary.