More than three decades after a Saskatchewan farmer was murdered, and more than four years after the federal government acknowledged that a miscarriage of justice may have occurred, Odelia and Nerissa Quewezance remain trapped in legal limbo.
The recent APTN News report by Leanne Sanders shines a spotlight on a troubling reality: even when serious concerns exist about the reliability of a conviction, obtaining meaningful justice in Canada can take years—or even decades.
A Case That Refuses to Disappear
Odelia and Nerissa Quewezance, members of Keeseekoose First Nation in Saskatchewan, were convicted in connection with the 1993 death of Joseph Dolff. The sisters have consistently maintained their innocence.
Their convictions were based largely upon statements obtained during lengthy RCMP interrogations. According to their legal representatives and supporters, those interrogations were not recorded and involved circumstances that raise significant concerns regarding the voluntariness and reliability of the admissions.
In June 2022, the federal Department of Justice concluded that there “may be a reasonable basis to conclude that a miscarriage of justice likely occurred” and referred the matter for further investigation through the Criminal Conviction Review Group (CCRG).
For most observers, such a finding would suggest that a resolution was imminent.
Instead, four years later, the sisters are still waiting.
Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied
The Quewezance case highlights one of the most significant criticisms of Canada’s historical conviction review process: delay.
Individuals seeking review of a wrongful conviction application often spend years gathering records, locating witnesses, obtaining expert opinions, and navigating a process that is largely unfamiliar to the public. Even after an application is accepted for investigation, there is often no clear timeline for completion.
For applicants who have already spent years—or decades—in prison, these delays can be devastating.
The consequences extend beyond the courtroom. Housing, employment, family reunification, mental health support, and community reintegration all remain uncertain while applicants wait for a decision that could fundamentally alter the course of their lives.
Indigenous Peoples and Wrongful Convictions
The Quewezance sisters’ case also raises broader concerns about the disproportionate impact of the criminal justice system on Indigenous peoples.
Indigenous women remain dramatically overrepresented in Canada’s correctional institutions. Yet Indigenous individuals are underrepresented among recognized wrongful conviction cases and exonerations.
This disparity raises important questions:
- How many wrongful convictions remain unidentified?
- How many individuals lack access to legal assistance capable of pursuing a conviction review?
- How many cases never receive the public attention necessary to attract support?
These questions were among the concerns that motivated calls for an independent miscarriage of justice review body.
Why the Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission Matters
Parliament passed David and Joyce Milgaard’s Law to establish the Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission (MJRC), an independent body intended to replace the previous conviction review system administered through the federal Department of Justice.
The new Commission was designed to:
- Increase independence from government decision-making;
- Improve accessibility for applicants;
- Reduce delays in conviction reviews;
- Provide a more trauma-informed and applicant-centred process;
- Improve access for Indigenous, racialized, and marginalized communities.
Unfortunately, as the APTN report notes, the Commission is still not fully operational.
While federal funding has been approved and plans remain underway, applicants such as the Quewezance sisters continue to wait for meaningful progress.
The Role of Miscarriage of Justice Canada
At Miscarriage of Justice Canada, we believe that every individual who presents reasonable grounds to believe a wrongful conviction has occurred deserves a timely, fair, and independent review.
The Quewezance sisters’ experience illustrates why reform remains urgently necessary.
Canada’s wrongful conviction system cannot function effectively if applicants spend years waiting for decisions after the government has already acknowledged that a miscarriage of justice may have occurred.
Our organization was established to help fill critical gaps in access to justice by:
- Assisting individuals seeking conviction reviews;
- Supporting applicants who may not otherwise have access to legal resources;
- Raising public awareness regarding wrongful convictions;
- Advocating for a fair, transparent, and effective review process;
- Supporting the successful implementation of the Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission.
Looking Forward
The story of Odelia and Nerissa Quewezance is not simply about two individuals. It is about a justice system’s obligation to correct its mistakes when credible evidence suggests that an error may have occurred.
When the state takes decades of a person’s life, every additional month of delay matters.
As Canada continues the long-awaited implementation of the Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission, the Quewezance sisters’ case serves as a reminder that meaningful reform must be measured not only by legislation passed, but by justice delivered.
For Odelia and Nerissa Quewezance, and for many others awaiting review, the question remains painfully simple:
How much longer must they wait?