Writing for the majority, Justice LeBel wrote "To be clear, courts must take judicial notice of such matters as the history of colonialism, displacement and residential schools and how that history continues to translate into lower educational attainment, lower incomes, higher unemployment, higher rates of substance abuse and suicide and, of course, higher levels of incarceration for Aboriginal Peoples"
This case involved more violent offenders so just think of the application that this ruling can and should have for non-violent offenses. First Nation people are significantly over-represented in the criminal justice system.
Read the full story from CBC here: Aboriginal history must factor in sentences, Supreme Court says.