The BCAFN works to promote greater understanding and involvement in justice issues and reform as it pertains to First Nations in British Columbia. We promote events and forums on these important topics, in addition to resources that can help to identify opportunities and strategies to move communities forward.
In addition to his work on the national Assembly of First Nations portfolios for economic development, and fisheries, BCAFN Regional Chief Terry Teegee is also appointed to its justice portfolio.
Justice Strategy NEWS
March, 2020
First Nations organizations, Province endorse new First Nations Justice Strategy press release pdf
Memorandum of Understanding: Development of an Indigenous Justice Strategy MOU pdf
BC FIRST NATIONS JUSTICE STRATEGY (February 2020)
Executive Overview
The BC First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC) and the Province of British Columbia (BC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Fall 2017, committing to the development and implementation of a joint justice strategy, with a focus on:
Reconciliation with Indigenous people;
Decreasing the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system;
Improving the experience of Indigenous people within the justice system;
Addressing violence against Indigenous people, especially women and girls;
Engagement with Indigenous communities and organizations in a respectful and culturally
appropriate manner;
Improved access to justice services by Indigenous people; and,
Designing services that provide Indigenous people with culturally relevant, flexible and user-
focused processes.
The strategy is built upon four Foundational philosophies:
Foundation 1: A Strategy must adopt an integrative, holistic, and comprehensive approach that addresses all forms of interaction between First Nations and the justice system.
Foundation 2: A Strategy must pursue two tracks of change at once: (1) Reform of the existing justice system; (2) Transformation through the rebuilding of Indigenous justice systems.
Foundation 3: A Strategy must be proactive in creating conditions where First Nations people are no longer disproportionately interacting with, nor being impacted by, the justice system.
Foundation 4: A Strategy must achieve a 180-degree shift from the current reality of First Nations people being overrepresented in all stages of interaction with the justice system, while at the same time being underrepresented as actors with roles and responsibilities within the system.
Read more of the BC First Nations Justice Strategy
Learn more about our work as it relates to First Nations justice, and justice reform:
BCAFN Supports Justice for Tina Fontaine: Justice System Reforms Needed
BCAFN Regional Chief Appointed to National Fisheries, Justice & Economic Development Portfolios
BCAFN Concerned About the RCMP Injunction Enforcement