Ipperwash Litigation & Inquiry

In 1995, First Nation activist Dudley George was shot and killed by police in Ipperwash Provincial Park at a protest seeking to protect native burial grounds and Treaty lands. Klippensteins acted for the George family in a series of successful legal actions, first against Premier Mike Harris, the province and the police, and later at the public judicial inquiry into Dudley’s death. The Ipperwash Inquiry resulted in wide ranging policy changes in policing and government, and the creation of the Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. As a result of further representations by Sam George and Klippensteins, the Ontario Government returned the Ipperwash Park lands to First Nation control in 2009, fulfilling one of Dudley’s dreams. Eventually the Government of Ontario and local First Nations jointly erected a memorial to Dudley on the former Ipperwash Park lands where he had died.

Sam George, Dudley George’s brother, was awarded the Order of Ontario for his efforts in pursuing truth and justice.