Indigenous Justice

We support Indigenous organizations and initiatives working to create systemic change across the province, altering the justice landscape for and by Indigenous peoples in British Columbia. This includes policy reform, province-wide advocacy, Indigenous legal research, and law development. These programs build the infrastructure necessary to grow the impact and understanding of Indigenous legal systems, support Indigenous people navigating the Canadian legal system, and uplift Indigenous self-determination. 

We support Indigenous communities to grow and live into their own systems of law, justice, and governance. This can look like working alongside knowledge keepers to identify, draft, and implement Indigenous law in community. Often, funded work is land-based, where understanding of laws is grown and advanced through activities on the land and water – harvesting, gathering traditional foods and medicines, and engaging in the arts. In some cases, funded work bridges traditional legal orders and legal reform initiatives concerning rights and title. 

We support programming that addresses the immediate needs of Indigenous people interacting with the Canadian legal system. These initiatives work to address gaps in existing legal support, manage the ongoing impacts of colonial legal systems in Indigenous communities, and restore power to community members as they navigate Canadian legal structures. This funding generally supports work within the criminal justice and family justice systems, bridging community-led systems and Canadian structures, including courts, diversion programs, and services for people transitioning out of the prison system. 

The Law Foundation maintains dedicated and ongoing support for Indigenous Courts throughout BC. These Courts represent a collaboration between Indigenous communities and the Provincial Court of British Columbia, with a primary objective of reducing systemic harm and addressing the biases experienced by Indigenous people navigating the criminal justice system. 

Indigenous Courts function as sentencing courts, where Elders sit alongside judges to work with individuals who have entered a guilty plea, with a focus on rehabilitation and healing. The approach is holistic and culturally grounded, ensuring Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and healing are woven into the judicial process.  

Our funding primarily supports Elders and Court Coordinator services, and in certain locations, Client Navigators. Funding may also cover training, honoraria for Elders’ preparation time, meals, wellness initiatives, and professional development for coordinators. Currently, 10 Indigenous Courts operate across BC, each tailored to the specific needs of the community it serves.