Editor:
I am bewildered when today I learned a First Nation woman, testified on behalf of John Furlong after a young reporter called Laura Robison (Ontario journalist) sacrificed her career and health to tell the story of First Nation children mistreated at the Catholic school in Burns Lake in the late 60s-70s. I am told the journalist had many allegations against John Furlong in eight signed affidavits.
All week I had expected First Nation people to march outside the court here in Vancouver in support of Laura Robinson who is now in debt for over $400,000 for trying to help the First Nation people by telling the story. But that did not even happen. Many people have asked me where the First Nation people are in this fight going on in the court house. I have had no answer.
June 26, 2015 John Furlong’s lawyer in his summary statements in a B.C. court room said that all the stories given to Laura Robinson by First Nation people in Burns Lake were lies… never mind that she had eight sworn affidavits before she wrote her story on John Furlong in the Georgia Straight newspaper, Sept. 27, 2012.
In the summary of Mr. Furlong’s lawyer, the stories Ms. Robinson told were said to be all lies. So much for the stories of First Nation people in the courts of our land.
Jennifer Wade, human rights observer at Furlong/ Robinson Trial
Vancouver
