Native people make up 20 percent of the inmate population in Canada despite being just 3 percent of the overall population.

Advocates say Native people are more likely to be sent to jail than non-Natives. That's why they are worried about new tough-on-crime measures that would cut down on cut down on conditional sentencing.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper acknowledged his proposal would have a disproportionate affect on Native people. But he said it would also help them because they are the victims of crime at high rates.

"In the end, justice has to be colour blind," Harper said, CBC News reported.

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