Inuit priorities chapter

To be transformative, the Indigenous Justice Strategy requires intentionally moving beyond existing processes, systems and practices when appropriate. It is acknowledged that Inuit Treaty Organizations and Canada will need to collaborate with provincial and territorial governments to successfully advance the following priorities to effect long-term and sustainable positive change.

Infrastructure

This section outlines the infrastructure priorities in Inuit Nunangat related to justice. Infrastructure is critical to the safety of communities. Improving access to housing, shelters and transitional housing as well as community recreational spaces is important for reducing interactions with the justice system, preventing crime and supporting rehabilitation of offenders. In addition, well-resourced Inuit Justice Centres will help improve access to justice for Inuit.

1.1 Continue to partner with Inuit to implement housing-related Inuit modern treaty obligations, and through the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee (ICPC), continue to partner with Inuit to implement the 2019 Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy co-developed by Inuit and Canada, which notably recognizes that a continuum of housing is crucial to sustainable housing provision and identifies expansion of transitional and supportive housing as an expected outcome.

1.2 Improve access to culturally relevant justice services in Inuit Nunangat and urban centres and seek to expand existing justice programs and services to include support for Inuit Community Justice Centres for the provision of Inuit-based justice services to address the needs of those interacting with, or at risk of interacting with the justice system, in partnership with Inuit, and provinces and territories.

Supporting Inuit community wellness

This section highlights prevention and wrap-around supports to help prevent crime and support community wellness. Prevention supports outlined in this section reflect the holistic nature of crime prevention and identify solutions for improving Inuit health and wellbeing.

2.1 Support, expand and deliver culturally tailored programming to improve community well-being, crime prevention and healing, in partnership with Inuit and provinces and territories. This could include:

2.2 Support access to justice for Inuit with disabilities, with specific regard for Inuit with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), within the criminal justice system, in partnership with Inuit and provinces and territories.

2.3 To help prevent traumatic experiences during childhood, Canada will co-develop an Inuit-specific, long-term equivalent to Jordan’s Principle whose focus shall include support for wrap-around services that systematically prevent adversity or support healing and coping skills for children who have experienced adversity.

2.4 Develop Inuit-led measures to help prevent Inuit women, girls, 2SLGBTQIA+ people and other vulnerable people from being trafficked, in partnership with Inuit and provinces and territories.

2.5 Canada will work with Inuit and other justice stakeholders to improve Inuit-specific data collection, with one of the objectives being to help evaluate Inuit interactions with the justice system, including both as accused and as victims.

2.6 Partner with Inuit, and provinces and territories to develop screening and assessment protocols and guidance to ensure Inuit have access to diagnostic services for mental health and disabilities, including FASD.

Improving access to justice

The following section on improving access to justice focuses on interventions and actions to address systemic barriers for Inuit within the Canadian justice system. Actions seek to improve access to the Canadian justice system, including by creating supports for those requiring assistance navigating it.

3.1 Improve access to justice for Inuit involved in the criminal justice system and facilitate fair, just, equitable and culturally relevant treatment. This could include partnering with Inuit and provinces and territories to:

3.2 In partnership with Inuit, and provinces and territories, develop and implement Inuit-specific cultural competence and awareness training for justice personnel in Inuit Nunangat, (for example, Crown attorneys, defence lawyers, court staff, justices of the peace, judges and correctional services workers).

3.3 Develop and implement measures that increase the recruitment and retention of Inuit in justice-related professions, in partnership with Inuit and provinces and territories, and stakeholders.

3.4 Reduce barriers, in partnership with Inuit, and provinces and territories, to access Gladue services in Inuit Nunangat, including by developing and implementing measures to support recruitment, training and retention of Gladue writers, reviewers and trainers.

3.5 Design and expand victim supports, in partnership with Inuit, and provinces and territories, to better ensure the provision of culturally appropriate services and supports for Inuit in urban centres and in Inuit Nunangat.

Policing

The following section outlines actions related to ensuring policing services are culturally relevant and responsive to Inuit community needs. In Nunavut, Nunatsiavut and Inuvialuit Settlement Region, policing services are delivered by the RCMP. In Nunavik, the Nunavik Police Service delivers policing to the region.

4.1 In partnership with Inuit, and provinces and territories support Inuit-led crisis intervention initiatives intended to provide at-risk individuals with relevant services and supports.

4.2 In partnership with Inuit, and provinces and territories, support access to professional, dedicated and responsive policing services in Inuit Nunangat. This could include:

4.3 Partner with Inuit, and provinces and territories, to develop and implement Inuit-specific cultural competence and awareness training to help eliminate systemic racism in the justice system, including by improving training for law enforcement.

Corrections

The following section includes actions related to the corrections system with a focus on culturally specific supports for rehabilitation and healing of icarcerated Inuit and reintegration supports that focus on reducing recidivism and preventing revictimization.

5.1 Partner with Inuit to develop and implement training about Inuit culture, history and society to help improve knowledge and understanding of Inuit among federal corrections personnel.

5.2 Develop options with Inuit and provinces and territories to address systemic policy and resourcing barriers related to funeral visits, family visitation, Elder visitation, Inuktut language and accessing Inuit-led programming in corrections, with the objective of helping ensure that Inuit are able to remain connected to Inuit culture and society while incarcerated in corrections institutions.

5.3 Partner with Inuit, and provinces and territories to expand the use of Inuit-specific processes that support rehabilitation, reintegration and healing of Inuit offenders in the corrections system and Inuit transitioning out of incarceration. This includes exploring ways to increase Inuit access to Inuit-specific rehabilitative programming and services in the language they understand, including an Inuit equivalent of healing lodges. 

5.4 Partner with Inuit, and provinces and territories on information sharing about Inuit who are incarcerated or on mandatory release to help provide for the continuity of rehabilitative programming and services to reduce recidivism.

5.5 Partner with Inuit to support section 81 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act for correctional services and centres that are based on Inuit values and practices for healing and reintegration into the community, in particular through on-the-land programs in Inuit Nunangat.

5.6 Support reintegration plans brought forward by Inuit communities under section 84 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, including support for conditions of release, transitional housing and other needs of the offender, in partnership with Inuit and provinces and territories.

Inuit-led justice interventions

This section seeks to support Inuit-led interventions in the justice system including work on revitalization of Inuit legal and justice concepts, Inuit diversion and restorative justice programming, and on-the-land programming.

6.1 In partnership with Inuit, and provinces and territories, support the revitalization of Inuit legal and justice concepts. This could include supporting Inuit Treaty Organizations in conducting research and community engagement related to Inuit laws and legal practices.

6.2 Partner with Inuit to support the development and expansion of Inuit-specific diversion and restorative justice programming.

6.3 Partner with Inuit, and provinces and territories to support and expand Inuit-specific on-the-land programming, integrated with the criminal justice system, for crime prevention, rehabilitation and healing.

6.4 Partner with Inuit, and provinces and territories, to facilitate support for Inuit-led Community Justice Centres to provide services for Inuit involved in the justice system, such as:

Supporting Inuit self-determination and jurisdiction

This section addresses Inuit self-determination and the recognition of jurisdiction over administration of justice, the implementation of justice-related obligations under Inuit modern treaties, and the use of the ICPC to advance Inuit priorities in the Indigenous Justice Strategy.

7.1 Partner with Inuit Treaty Organizations, and provinces and territories, to support Inuit self-determination in relation to administration of justice. This could include consulting and cooperating on potential legislative options to recognize and enable Inuit to exercise jurisdiction in relation to administration of justice.

7.2 Canada to continue to partner with Inuit Treaty Organizations to implement justice-related Inuit modern treaty obligations.

7.3 Canada and Inuit will utilize the ICPC as a mechanism for implementing, reporting on, monitoring and evaluating Inuit-specific Indigenous Justice Strategy commitments.