The Government of Canada will provide the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) with a total of $537,990 in funding over two years for three programs which provide a range of services to Aboriginal communities in the Saskatoon region. These services include restorative justice activities which address crime in a community-based and culturally relevant way. Restorative justice has been shown to reduce recidivism and help mitigate some of the challenges faced by Aboriginal Canadians in the mainstream justice system.
The three STC programs, which are cost-shared with the Province of Saskatchewan, are the STC Community Justice Program and the Extrajudicial Measures Program and Opikinawasowin Reintegration Program.
The STC Community Justice Program (the "Program") supports restorative justice initiatives at the community level for the Yellow Quill First Nation, Kinistin Saulteaux Nation, Muskeg Cree Nation, Muskoday First Nation, Whitecap Dakota First Nation and One Arrow First Nation. The STC Community Justice Program includes extra-judicial sanctions and alternative measures programming for youth and adults. These include various culturally appropriate community circles, victim/offender mediation, and diversion programs. The Program also includes crime prevention and public education activities.
The Program has developed excellent relationships with the Crown and has also seen an increase in the number of requests for sentencing circles. Recognizing challenges in securing pre-charge referrals, the Program has been proactively seeking ways to build sustainable relationships with the RCMP.
Through the Aboriginal Justice Strategy, the Government will provide the STC Community Justice Program with $340,842: $170,421 in fiscal year 2014-15 and $170,421 in fiscal year 2015-16.
STC Urban First Nations Services Inc. (STC Urban), an entity of the STC, provides a number of programs that support and assist youth, adults and their families throughout the duration of their involvement in the criminal justice system. STC Urban provides a community-based and culturally relevant Extrajudicial Measures Program, which includes mediation, restorative justice services and counselling for youth. STC Urban also provides the Opikinawasowin Reintegration Program for youth 12 to 17 years old. Through Opikinawasowin, young people can have access to services such as life-skills training, coping skills development, employment, education, and recreational activities.
Through the Aboriginal Justice Strategy, the Government will provide the Extrajudicial Measures Program and the Opikinawasowin Reintegration Program with $197,148: $98,574 for fiscal year 2014-15 and $98,574 for fiscal year 2015-16.
-30-
March 2015
Department of Justice Canada
