February 12, 2025, I had the honour and privilege of participating in a fly-courtat Ogoki Post, a remote First
Nations community in northern Ontario.
As an articling student with the Thunder Bay Crown Attorney's Office, I knew this experience would be different from my usual workdays, but I didn't realize just how much it would change my perspective on justice, community, and resilience.
The Journey Begins
It was a cold early morning in Thunder Bay at 9 a.m., with temperatures as low as -23°C. We boarded our small plane with seven colleagues and two pilots. This was my first time in a small plane, so I sat still, not knowing how the takeoff would be. We were given a simple lunch bag with a sandwich, salad, and water—something I would later appreciate more than I expected.
We landed in Ogoki Post an hour later, with the temperature even lower, at -28°C. A kind police officer greeted us and drove us to the court location in his pickup truck.
Setting Up Court
The court location we arrived at was unlike any other I’ve ever seen. It was a small wooden log cabin, which looked more like a cottage than a formal courthouse. When I walked inside, I realized it was not a courthouse but a band office. With limited resources, we all had to scramble and set up the courtroom by arranging tables and chairs for the Crown, the clerks, a reporter, and one for the presiding judge.
We had a small stool with a microphone to resemble a witness stand, where the defence counsel would stand beside their clients as their names were called up. Once the proceedings began, the rest of us were crammed in the narrow corridors as people walked in and out of the courtroom.
A Small Community
With approximately 900 members, Ogoki Post is managed by the Marten Falls First Nation community, but only a small percentage of up to 100 people live there. Since it is a small community, everyone knows each other by their first names. Whenever we had accused persons or witnesses not show up for their matters, the police officers would walk to their homes and remind them to come to court.
When I scanned through the docket, I noticed several identical names. Then later, I found out how deeply connected this community was as most of them were related through extended family. The twenty-four cases before the court ranged from mischief to property, weapons possession, and assault. I was assigned the role of preparing witnesses. I had to ensure anyone who walked into the courtroom was provided instructions of what to expect, take their names down, and let the officers know if anyone was missing so they could inform them of their court proceeding.
Challenges Beyond the Courtroom
There was no time for a break as people constantly walked in and out of the court. Once it was lunch break, I quickly ate the lunch bag, which felt like a gourmet meal to me at this point. As soon as I was done, I asked an officer who had been serving the Marten Falls First Nation community for several years a few questions to gain a deeper understanding of the community. After speaking to him, three key issues stood out the most:
- Housing Crisis—The Government provided many "free housing" units, but they were not built for modern living conditions. Typically, maintenance was expensive, and access to clean water remained a persistent concern.
- Economic Hardship—limited job opportunities led many residents to move to Geraldton or Thunder Bay, where they relied on government support. These locations are several hours away, which may further contribute to economic hardship.
- Political Tensions—This community had a small population of around 100 people. Several unresolved family conflicts persisted for several decades, resulting in power imbalances within the community.
Since time was scarce, I had to conclude my quick “interview” with the officer as I was asked to join a Judicial Pre-Trial with the presiding judge, Crown and defence counsel. As an articling student, it was a great learning experience to see how everyone would handle these sensitive matters and how they would eloquently apply Gladue factors when required. These were moments when I realized that a Crown’s role isn’t about winning a case; it’s about serving the public interest and ensuring all justice is fair and equitable.
Closing the Court
We had an update from the pilot that strong winds were approaching, which meant that we would have to leave before 4 pm or else we could not return to
Thunder Bay on time. When our last few matters on the docket were completed, we immediately worked together to put everything back where it was so we could head back to the airstrip.
The pilot updated the use. As I buckled up and stared out the window on our flight back home, I reflected on how life-changing this experience was for me as I embarked on my legal profession. It wasn’t just a humbling experience; it made me appreciate everything I often take for granted, which gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges remote communities continue to face in the 21st century—not just in the legal system but in their daily activities.
Lessons Learned
This experience grounded me in several ways that I never thought it would. Seeing the barriers that the Indigenous communities face, both within and beyond the justice system, deepened my appreciation for the responsibilities that come with this profession. It reaffirmed to me that justice is not a “one-size-fits-all” system.
As every community has unique needs and challenges, one thing is clear: the law must adapt to serve them properly. As I continue my legal career, I hope to use this experience to advocate for better legal services and support for remote communities because justice should be accessible to all, no matter how far north they are.
About the Author
Gari Ravishankar is an articling student at the Thunder Bay Crown Attorney's Office. He is passionate about public service, community engagement, and equitable access to justice.