Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver – First Nations leaders extend their deepest condolences to the family and friends of former Chief Justice Donald Brenner, a man recognized for his leadership in formative legal decisions concerning Indian Residential School survivors.
It is upon the foundation of key legal cases in which he presided that the residential school system became a legal issue, forcing Canada to stand up and listen to the stories of loss, alienation and abuse.
“Donald Brenner had a significant impact on the lives of Canada’s Aboriginal people. Mr. Brenner was the only justice to acknowledge the need for the Government of Canada to apologize to Canada’s Aboriginal people for the devastating impacts of the Indian Residential School system,” said Grand Chief Edward John of the First Nations Summit political executive.