Court to hear case against Canada

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The First Nations International Court of Justice is set to begin its preliminary hearing into the case against Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, indicted by the court for illegal activity undertaken by Canada against First Nations people.

The court will sit from April 2 to 4 in the ballroom of the Radisson Hotel in Ottawa. At this first sitting, the judges will hear the charges from the prosecution and preliminary evidence will be presented.

Chretien, as Canada's representative, was sent the First Nation indictment in September 1995. He was to respond with a plea by Dec. 21 of that year, but all that was received from the prime minister's offices was an acknowledgement that they had received the material and the information that the papers had been passed along to Indian Affairs, said Sylvia Thompson, of the Chiefs of Ontario and organizer of the court.

Now to be decided is whether the court will appoint a "friend of the court" (a lawyer) to represent Canada at the hearing, or leave an empty chair where the defence would normally be, she said.

There will be seven judges to preside over the first sitting of the court. They include individuals from Indigenous nations in Canada, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand. The judges will be formally installed through ceremonies conducted by Elders prior to the opening of the court.

Larry Chartrand, professor of law at the University of Ottawa, has been appointed as the registrar of the court. His responsibilities will include ensuring that the documents are recorded and circulated to the parties as well as keeping the files of the court.

Elders have been invited to participate in an Elders panel that will form part of the court structure. The Elders will act as advisors to the tribunal.

The rules of the court will be based on the principles of First Nations law, international law and the rules of natural justice and human rights.