Indigenous women now make up 50 per cent of women in federal prisons. Late last year, the Office of the Correctional Investigator noted that Indigenous women make up 50 per cent of women in federal prisons, a percentage that has been rising, when Indigenous women make up about five per cent of Canadian women. In an emailed statement, he said his decision on the sisters' case will be made "on the basis of the facts and the law." He acknowledged the review system needs improvement, and said there is work underway to create a new independent criminal case review commission. Pate was one of three senators to co-author a report last month that called for the exoneration and group case review of 12 incarcerated Indigenous women.

Source: CBC News June 17, 2022 20:01 UTC