On Thursday, two sisters reunited for the first time in 18 years outside the Court of King’s Bench Yorkton courthouse..They are both some of the longest-serving female inmates in Canada for a crime they deny committing..In 1994, the Quewezance sisters were convicted of second-degree murder for killing Kamsack farmer Anthony Joseph Dolff, both were sentenced to life in prison.. Quewezance Sisters .On January 17, the sisters will apply for bail with a conditional release, while federal prosecutors are investigating an alleged miscarriage of justice as they maintain their innocence..“I feel I’m ready for this. I’m really excited to see my sister,” said Odelia Quewezance..“It’s been a long time coming. It’s pretty sad that it had to take this to be together, to see each other … they kept us separated.”.Nerissa Quewezance arrived to meet her sister Odelia and they hugged outside of the courthouse, which was the first time they have been together since 2004 at their father’s funeral..“It was surreal. It was emotional when I was sitting with her in the courtroom,” said Nerissa..Odelia cried outside the courthouse while speaking with the media..“I haven’t seen her for 18 years, like how can they do that?” said Odelia..“We’re not violent. We have big hearts.”.The hearing the sisters were attending was to lift the publication ban on their upcoming bail proceedings in January..Saskatchewan Crown Attorney Kelly Kaip wants the publication ban to “ensure a fair hearing.”.Kaip stated the media is on the “side” of the sisters and wants the ban.. James Lockyer .Innocence Canada Co-founder and defence attorney James Lockyer said the public has a “right to know” and none of the new evidence could “taint the proceedings.”.Lockyer said the sisters' case is of “massive public interest” similar to the case of David Milgaard, who was wrongly convicted..Next week, Justice Layh will rule on the publication ban..“Hopefully, this is a start for everybody to start reaching out to us native people, especially aboriginal women in prison. A lot of my sisters are still suffering … a lot of injustices still,” said Nerissa..Keeseekoose First Nation Chief Lee Ketchemonia said he was shocked when the sisters were initially charged and convicted..“I knew them right from when we were children … as chief of our community I’m here to come and help support the sisters,” said Ketchemonia before the hearing..“Everybody in their family wants to see them released.”
