March 6, 2007: The News Media and Ipperwash

On Tuesday, March 6, a panel at Ryerson University will discuss media responsibilities in covering Aboriginal issues — specifically how the news media handled the 1995 shooting death of Dudley George at Ipperwash Provincial Park.

The panel discussion is co-sponsored by First Nations Technical Institute of Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, and Ryerson’s School of Journalism.

This free open house coincides with the public release of the Report of the Ipperwash Inquiry, the result of two years of hearings before Mr. Justice Sidney Linden. Its mandate was to examine the confrontation between the OPP and the First Nations occupiers at the provincial park that resulted in the use of deadly force, and to recommend how such events may be prevented in future.

Sam George, brother of Dudley George and the family’s most passionate advocate for a public inquiry, will attend.

Mr. George will discuss his very personal assessment of the media’s initial performance and its later role in ongoing coverage.