Ohsweken – Advancing reconciliation requires supporting culturally appropriate, Indigenous-led and community-based justice services, and building policies informed by the lived experiences of Indigenous peoples. These are key to achieving systemic change in our justice system.
Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, joined Tim Bucci, Director of Six Nations Justice Department, to announce over $560,000 in funding to support two Indigenous-led projects of the Six Nations Justice Department that help address the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system and provide trauma-informed training that prioritizes the needs of victims.
The first project is the Gladue Aftercare Worker. This project assists Six Nations members who have gone through a Gladue report process to successfully complete their report recommendations and meet the terms of their sentence by connecting them with supports and services. These services include healing circles, spiritual care, and mental health and addiction services. The Gladue Aftercare Worker also assists individuals, family and community members who have experienced past trauma by connecting them with healing supports.
The second initiative is the We Walk Together project. It provides trauma-informed victim assistance training for Six Nations Justice Department staff and volunteers. This training aims to better equip participants with the knowledge needed to aid clients who have experienced trauma.
Justice Canada is providing the Six Nations Justice Department with $487,500 over five years (2022-2027) for the Gladue Aftercare Worker project through the Indigenous Justice Program’s Community Based Justice Fund, and $76,435 over three years (2022-2025) for the We Walk Together project through the Indigenous Justice Program’s Capacity-Building Fund.
The Six Nations Justice Department is a non-profit organization guided by Haudenosaunee Legal Principles. It provides meaningful support to victims and survivors, offenders, community members, and Indigenous peoples navigating the legal system.
“Investing in Indigenous-led justice services is critical to advancing reconciliation in Canada. That is why our government is supporting the Six Nations Justice Department in its work to address and reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system, both as victims and offenders. These projects, Gladue aftercare and training trauma-informed victim assistance, are helping bring systemic change to this unacceptable reality.” – Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada