Foreword

• Author: Harry S LaForme
• Profession: Ontario Court of Appeal, Retired
• Pages: 17-20

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Foreword

It was my great pleasure to write a foreword for the first edition of this book. As I noted

then, it was both because of its author and because of its content. My great pleasure now

is that I get to add to it in this second edition. While it is no surprise to me that there is

a second edition, my surprise is that I get the privilege to add to my comments in this

foreword.

Jonathan Rudin and I graduated together from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1977.

As late as 1973, there were only five Indigenous lawyers in Canada. With the defeat of

the 1969 assimilationist White Paper, the 1973 Calder decision, and the opening of the

Native Law Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, Canadian law and lawyers were,

at the time of our graduation, only just starting to grapple with the use of Canadian

laws aimed at colonizing Indigenous peoples and the tragic injustices that this caused.

The progress of Canadian law since 1977 has not been perfect. Much work remains to

be done. Nevertheless, the progress in many ways has been immense. At times, it truly

amazes me.

Jonathan Rudin significantly contributed to this progress in both his work and in

authoring this book and adding to it in this second edition. To my mind, this makes him

one of the most accomplished members of our law class that now includes quite a few

who have gone on to become judges and leading lawyers. As I previously wrote, Jonathan

could have been very successful in any area of the law, but we are all fortunate that he

chose to make working with Indigenous people and the criminal law his life’s work.

Jonathan has worked in close and respectful partnership with Indigenous people and

organizations over the last 30 years. The second edition of this book reflects again much

of what Jonathan has learned and continues to learn, and what his eorts have contrib-

uted to and accomplished in his chosen legal journey.

Since 1990, Jonathan continues to serve as the program director of Aboriginal Legal

Services, a non-profit organization oering a full range of legal and advocacy services to

Toronto’s diverse and vibrant Indigenous community. He played a crucial role in creating

the Community Council, a successful diversion program that relies on the work of vol-

unteers from Toronto’s Indigenous community. One secret of Jonathan’s success is his

desire and ability to listen to and learn from Indigenous people. I am privileged to call

him my friend.

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