Featured Story
Historic Apology Given to Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Elder Wilson Hartie by Manitoba’s Chief Judge Ryan Rolston and his Associate Chief Judges
On October 21, 2024, at the Norman Linklater Memorial Multiplex, the NCN community witnessed a profoundly emotional event where NCN Elder Wilson Hartie received a historic apology from Manitoba’s Chief Judge Ryan Rolston and Associate Chief Judges.
Elder Hartie was accompanied by Chief Angela Levasseur, Councillor Cheryl Moore, Councillor Kim Linklater, Deputy Chief Marcel Moody, Director of Justice Teresa Linklater, and Elder Terry Linklater when he met with Chief Judge Ryan Rolston and his associates: Associate Chief Judge Donovan Dvorak, Associate Chief Judge
Tracey Lord, and Associate Chief Judge Lee-Ann Martin.
This gathering marked an official apology from the Manitoba judiciary, offering Elder Hartie closure on
a hurtful and prejudiced incident that had cast a shadow over his life for decades. In court, Elder Wilson Hartie was labeled “an animal” by a Manitoba Judge, a painful memory that haunted him and left a lasting mark on his family and our NCN community. Elder Wilson Hartie recalled standing before a judge who told him, “Mr. Hartie, you have no respect for human life. You’re an animal.” The laughter that followed in the courtroom solidified this harsh label, creating a wound he carried for a lifetime.
On October 21, 20024, Elder Hartie shared the profound impact of those words and the lasting effect of being called “Animal” on his identity and sense of self-worth. In one instance, Elder Wilson paused by the overwhelming emotion and then expressed that he had been called “Animal” in front of his granddaughter, who assured him, “You’re not an animal; you are my Papa.” Her words brought home the profound emotional weight that still lingered from that incident. Though Chief Judge Rolston was not involved in the original event, he offered a heartfelt apology, acknowledging the pain caused by such words and their power to deeply wound. Chief Judge Rolston presented Elder Hartie with a feather, a culturally significant gift in our Nihitho tradition. Importantly, Chief Judge Rolston selected it with care and carefully beaded the feather with beads in colours chosen under an elder’s guidance.
The exchange, marked by a heartfelt embrace, represented a powerful moment of reconciliation grounded in mutual respect. A similar beaded eagle feather was presented to Chief Levasseur to accept on behalf of the nation that the Associate Chief Judges Lord and Martin beaded. Learning about our cultural practices and beading the eagle feathers represents a powerful act of not just reconciliation, but authentic and meaningful reconcili- ACTION.
To honour Elder Wilson Hartie’s resilience, Chief Angela Levasseur, Deputy Chief Marcel Moody, Councillor Cheryl Moore, and Kim Linklater presented him with a Star Blanket, a symbol of strength and healing. The emotional day concluded with a shared sense of recognition not only for the pain endured by our Elder but for the resilience required to overcome it, reminding all present of the lasting effects of words and the strength required to heal.
Kinanaskomitinawaw Chief Judge Rolston and Associate Chief Judges
Read the November Newsletter for the complete story.
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