Five Manitoba judges, including the chief justice of the Court of Queen's Bench, are to meet with First Nations leaders this week to try to find ways to improve the justice system for Indigenous people.
Chief Justice Glenn Joyal says the question of the disproportionate presence of Indigenous people in prisons is a ``brutally tragic fact'' that needs to be addressed.
The judges will meet with community members in Norway House Cree Nation and with representatives of 30 First Nations communities in northern Manitoba.
Norway House Chief Ron Evans says there are a number of areas where improvement is needed.
He says that includes a greater focus on preventing crime by addressing issues such as inadequate housing and poor support services for young people.
