898 THE ADVOCATE
VOL. 79 PART 6 NOVEMBER 2021
Additionally, it aims to increase the number of First Nations people working
within the justice system, and support First Nations to restore their justice
systems and structures.
We’re incorporating Indigenous justice models into the justice system
with a focus on diverting people away from the justice system, including,
whenever appropriate, through culturally appropriate and communitybased
alternatives to incarceration.
Since launching the strategy, we have opened two additional Indigenous
Courts, in Williams Lake and Hazelton. This takes the total to eight in the
province, with more on their way over the coming years. These courts are
developed in partnership with the local First Nations communities.
The Indigenous Courts bring together elders, local service providers, the
prosecution and the judiciary to provide a culturally appropriate approach
to justice that focuses on addressing the underlying factors that brought an
individual into the justice system in order to reduce recidivism.
While these courts work to direct people away from incarceration to
restorative justice, we must also ensure that there are supports available
through all stages of the justice system. That is why we have partnered with
the BCFNJC to create three Indigenous Justice Centres, in Merritt, Prince
George and Prince Rupert, as part of our strategy.
The centres offer Indigenous peoples access to a range of culturally relevant
services, such as legal advice and representation for criminal and child
protection matters, advocacy and referrals to other services to help them
navigate the justice system. The centres are designed to provide holistic,
wrap-around services, which include addictions and mental health services,
counselling, housing services, employment services, and other health and
wellness supports.
After only a year, we are already seeing the positive impact that these
centres can have. They are helping people in rural and remote communities
to access representation. They are also helping cases move forward
with greater clarity and fewer negative outcomes.
That is a significant shift, and one that will have a lasting impact on the
communities that are experiencing better outcomes for their community
members who are interacting with the justice system.
But we know that many areas of the province still face significant barriers
to accessing justice. That is why we recently partnered with the BCFNJC to
launch a Virtual Indigenous Justice Centre. The centre offers the same
services as the physical locations, but opens the door to people across the
province, with lawyers and advice available via telephone, video or e-mail.
Throughout the pandemic, we have seen how valuable technology can be
in maintaining access to justice and providing people across the province