A new Memorandum of Understanding, signed today, looks to eliminate systemic Indigenous discrimination from BC’s justice system.
Indigenous Peoples make up 30 percent of the prison population, despite accounting for about 5 percent of the general population.
Today’s tripartite agreement will see Canada, British Columbia, and the BC First Nations Justice Council work together to address that overrepresentation.
Through the agreement, the other parties are supporting the Justice Council’s First Nations Justice Strategy, which the province previously endorsed in 2020.
According to the trio, that strategy represents the critical first step in transforming the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the justice system.
It aims to reduce overrepresentation, increase the number of First Nations working in the justice system, and work to revitalize restorative and traditional Indigenous justice systems.
For the Justice Council, that means creating the space and opportunity for Indigenous people to re-articulate their own approaches to justice and create their own systems, separate from the Council.
According to Justice Council Chair Doug White, while the situation is complex, they hope to work with both elected and Hereditary leadership in this endeavour.
In addition, Ottawa will be providing 8.9 million dollars over the next 5 years to support and establish more Indigenous Justice Centres in BC.
Next Wednesday, the Justice Council will be opening the first 4 such Centres in the province.
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