Mohawk protesters to be sentenced

Wow.

There's something about this article that makes me really uncomfortable.  I was there today in Napanee and, I dunno, maybe it was that my perspective is different than Jerome Lessard's but what I saw was massively, worldly different.

There was a lot of talk about building relationships in and outside the community that Jerome didn't report on.

There was a lot of talk about Gladue, the landmark Supreme Court decision that bound every Canadian court to consider the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in Canadian jails when it comes to criminal sentencing that Jerome didn't report on.

There was a reminder from a defense attorney that Gladue is not just an option for a defense attorney but a priority for the defense, Crown and judge to consider and work collaboratively toward implementing that Jerome didn't report on.

There was continued ignorance of this from the Crown that Jerome didn't report on.

For clarity: Chartrand represented himself. "Defense" didn't ask him to speak.

For clarity: Clint's statement was far, far, far more substantive and powerful than was reported.  It was humbling, whereas the quotes used here have a very stubborn sound to them.

As I watched the proceeding today, it struck me how fascinating, how genuinely interesting, it would be for a reporter from the Intelligencer at some point in the future to speak one-on-one with Judge Griffin about the uniqueness of this trial -- that it was the longest in Napanee history; of its complexity in that the accused were making a political statement but were charged with uncontextual crimes.

But my faith is shaken.  Good journalism shines light upon the situation, the totality of the experience, makes sense of it for those who couldn't be present themselves.  In this case, it would take into account the perspective of those who spoke, the surrouding communities, acknowledging the political insularity of Tyendinaga, and the relationships -- large and small, figurative and literal -- that exist for the people involved and, notably, the people who are not involved but live here too.  Good journalism does that.

It's a great opportunity.  A really great one.  And I'd love to see that article someday.