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1020 linear feet.
BACKGROUND.
This Ministry replaced the Department of Reform Institutions
in 1946, its functions formerly having been administered
by the Department of Provincial Secretary (RG 8). Early
records of institutions for which this Ministry is now responsible
-- jails, reformatories, training schools -- will be found
both in Provincial Secretary (RG 8) and in Inspector of
Asylums, Prisons and Public Charities (RG 63).
CONTENT.
At least since the Second World War, Aboriginal people have
had an incarceration level out of all proportion to their
absolute numbers in Ontario society. However, there is very
little in these records to allow documentation of that fact.
Modern case files and inmate files, for example, have been
subjected to destruction, with only 10 percent being saved
for archival purposes. Records for institutions in areas
with high aboriginal populations -- such as Kenora Jail
-- will presumably have material of relevance. Jail registers
for some areas (Toronto, Hamilton, Whitby, for example)
predate Confederation -- but a cursory survey of these early
records discloses no relevant material.
It is possible to identify aboriginal defendants in criminal
cases by examining the "Colour" or "Race"
data fields in the jail registers (RG 20 Series F-1 to F-50)
or in the prison registers (RG 20 Series E-1 to E-21). Once
you have identified that a person is aboriginal, look through
the other data fields to obtain their name, the date of
their trial, and the level of court in which they were tried.
With this information, you will be able to turn to the RG
22 Unprocessed Records List to identify whether or not a
minutebook has survived for the level of court, judicial
district, and time period in which you are interested. Researchers
should consult the portfolio archivist for further information.
Among the surviving records, the following is of immediate
interest:
Series B-4. Office of the Deputy Minister, Group I, Correspondence
and subject files. - 1968-1976. - 9 linear feet (20 Boxes).
Box 9 File 9.3 Indian Life and Canadian Law
Box 18 File 18.2 Indians 1973-1974
FINDING AID.
There are File List Appendixes in the RG 20 Inventory. However,
there is no easy way to search the jail or other institution
registers, other than to scan for known Indian surnames.
Researchers should ask the portfolio archivist for assistance.
MICROFILM VERSION AVAILABLE? None.
ACCESS
Pre-1961 material in Series A (Office of the Minister),
Series B (office of the Deputy Minister), Series H (Advisory
Councils and Boards), and Series J (Printed Materials and
Photographs) and pre-1916 material in Series E (Training
and Correctional Centres) and Series F (Jail and Detention
Centres) is not restricted and may be ordered directly by
researchers. Post-1961 material in Series A, B, H, and J,
post-1916 material in Series E and F, and all other series
not specifically listed are controlled under the FOI/P Act. |
