Indigenous Justice Program

Generations of colonization and its detrimental effects have led to the disproportionate incarceration and victimization of Indigenous people in Canada. Redress calls for the increased use of Indigenous justice, based on Indigenous laws and healing practices.

The Indigenous Justice Program (IJP) aims to advance this work by supporting Indigenous community-based justice programs that offer alternatives to mainstream justice processes in appropriate circumstances.

Objectives of the Indigenous Justice Program:

to assist Indigenous people in assuming greater responsibility for the administration of justice in their communities
to reflect and include Indigenous values within the justice system
to contribute to a decrease in the rate of victimization, crime and incarceration among Indigenous people in communities with community-based justice programs funded by the IJP

The IJP contributes to addressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system, whether as victims, accused or offenders.

The Indigenous Justice Program consists of three funding components:

Crime Prevention Programming

Transcript

The Indigenous Justice Program, or IJP, supports community-based programs that deliver activities along the justice continuum.

What follows is a success story about crime prevention programming for Inuit youth delivered by an IJP program in Nunavut.

The Land Program was developed for at-risk, Inuit youth in the community who don't have access to transportation and don't have father figures in their lives.

The program includes guided day trips over a period of 3 to 5 days with groups of up to 25 youth.

It starts in the spring and involves hunting goose and harvesting goose eggs.

The Land Program benefits the youth in several ways.

It builds self-esteem and confidence.

It improves mental health.

It strengthens ties to culture.

It provides spiritual healing opportunities.

And it also helps create and strengthen bonds between the youth participants.

When the weather gets warmer in Nunavut and 24-hour daylight begins, youth spend more time outside.

The Land Program provides youth with healthy and safe activities to engage in so they can start the season in a positive way.

It also reduces food insecurity because the youth share what they catch and gather with their community.

The Land Program embraces values important in Inuit society, some of which include:

Avatittinnik Kamatsiarniq which is respect and care for the land, animals, and the environment.

Pilimmaksarniq or Pijariuqsarniq which is the development of skills through observation, mentoring, practice, and effort.

And Pijitsirniq which means to serve and provide for one's family and community.

For more information on the Indigenous Justice Program or for help finding a program in your community, please visit Justice Canada's website or send us an email.

A message from the government of Canada.

Mediation Success Story

Transcript

The Indigenous Justice Program, or IJP, supports community-based programs that deliver activities along the justice continuum.

This includes mediation for youth, family, and community members to address matters before they escalate and resolve disputes.

What follows is a success story about a mediation between two Métis youth that was facilitated by an IJP program.

The two young people had been in conflict for some time.

Gossip and rumours between the two turned into verbal threats and threats on social media, and eventually led to physical assaults.

The situation created conflict between the two sets of parents.

They exchanged heated words with each other and were confrontational on several occasions.

Eventually, a physical altercation between the youths was recorded on video and posted to social media by one of the parents who was frustrated by the ongoing situation that had not been resolved by the school or police.

An IJP community program mediator who worked with the youth's school reached out to the parent who had shared the video and then the other set of parents.

They all consented to mediation.

Next, the mediator met with both girls separately to explain the process and to see if they would agree to mediation.

They both wanted to proceed.

At the mediation, a Métis elder offered a smudge and a prayer at the beginning of the process.

Then both girls had a chance to tell their story and share how they felt.

The focus was placed on figuring out the underlying issues behind their problem and then working together to find solutions.

The participants came up with the solutions themselves, which helped ensure the solutions were achievable and realistic.

Both young people actively participated in mediation.

They signed a mediation agreement which outlined what previous behaviours they would stop.

And they both agreed that if something did arise, they would reach out to the mediator to address their concerns.

The youth also took it upon themselves to apologize to each other.

They came to this on their own as a result of the process.

They agreed that they were allowing the actions and words of others to affect the way they treated each other.

There have been no further issues between the two girls or their parents since the mediation.

For more information on the Indigenous Justice Program or for help finding a program in your community, visit Justice Canada's website or send us an email.

A message from the government of Canada.

Post-charge Diversion Success Story

Transcript

The Indigenous Justice Program, or IJP, supports community-based programs that deliver activities along the justice continuum.

What follows is a success story about a First Nation woman diverted by the Crown at the post-charge stage to an IJP program.

The First Nation woman got into an altercation with her former partner in front of her three children.

She was under the influence of alcohol when they started arguing.

She physically assaulted him and damaged his car window before leaving.

She was arrested, her children were placed in the care of a family member and a no contact order was put in place.

Her case was diverted by the Crown to an IJP program.

The woman was very remorseful and nervous when she came to the IJP program.

But she was also very thankful for the opportunity to take part in restorative justice.

She participated in a circle that included a smudge, which is a traditional ceremony for purifying or cleansing the spirit.

An agreement was made during this process that included several commitments towards their healing journey.

The IJP participant committed to attending therapy and addictions counselling offered by her community.

She also agreed to write a letter of apology and participate in cultural activities.

This included receiving the teachings that come with making a hand drum and participating in a drum ceremony.

Given that her children were present at the time of the incident, it was also important for the woman to participate in family development and parenting programming.

This programming provides supports for parents and teaches them how to care for their children in a healthy way.

Throughout the IJP process, the woman had weekly check ins with her Indigenous Justice Worker as part of the justice agreement.

Following the successful completion of the IJP program and the agreed upon commitments, the woman's charges were stayed, and the court file was closed.

Eventually, the no contact order was lifted.

The family was ready to come together again.

The couple decided to reconcile and work on improving their relationship and attend counselling.

The woman also continued to access services for cultural teachings and other supports provided by the IJP program for herself and her children.

For more information on the Indigenous Justice Program or for help finding a program in your community, please visit Justice Canada's website or send us an email.

A message from the government of Canada.

View the Indigenous Justice Program YouTube playlist.

Official Languages

In the implementation of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act, Justice Canada is committed to facilitating the participation of official language minority communities and their organizations in the development and assessment of the Department’s policies, programs and services that significantly impact the development and vitality of the communities. Justice Canada is also committed to taking measures to ensure that its programs and services reach official language minority communities.

In the context of project funding, these measures include:

outreach to official language minority communities to enhance their understanding of Justice Canada funding programs
encouraging contacts between organizations that are receiving financial assistance and official language minority organizations/groups to ensure that the needs of these communities are taken into consideration in relation to the proposed projects to be considered for funding

Publications and Resources