SASKATOON — Canada's chief justice says modern media could be used to end stereotypes of aboriginal people created by old western movies and TV shows such as "The Lone Ranger."
Beverley McLachlin told an administration of justice conference in Saskatoon that media have been used to shape a certain perception of indigenous people, sometimes in very negative ways.
McLachlin says she is not an educator or a movie-maker, but suggests things such as videos or games could show the reality of aboriginals.
And she says the best time to increase that knowledge is in grade- school-level education.
McLachlin says changing perceptions could help a judicial system that many aboriginal people fear or mistrust.
She also says new Canadians might fear the legal system, too, if they come from countries where justice is equated with oppression and where the courts are corrupt.
