Agency Chiefs Tribal Council (ACTC) is situated in Treaty 6 Territory and consists of three First Nations: Big River, Pelican Lake and Witchekan Lake. Since 1998, the ACTC Community Justice Program, funded by the Aboriginal Justice Strategy, has provided culturally relevant programming to each of the three member First Nations communities. This includes alternative measures programs for adults, extra-judicial measures for youth, and public education and crime prevention initiatives.
The program uses a restorative approach to diverting offenders away from the mainstream justice system to more culturally appropriate community-based alternatives, where appropriate. Through this process the community has the opportunity to work collaboratively to address the effects of the crime, to repair the harm, address some of the root causes of the crime and, ultimately, to improve community safety and wellness. Diverting offenders away from the mainstream justice system is a discretionary tool used by police and prosecutors, with the consent of communities, for offences they view as more appropriate for out-of-court resolution. Generally speaking, this involves lesser offences.
For all of these initiatives, the ACTC Community Program staff work in close partnership with elders, community justice committees and other agencies as necessary to provide relevant and meaningful community justice services. Other agencies the Program engages in its work include the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program, Social Development, Fine Options, Courtworkers and Health Services.
Through the Aboriginal Justice Strategy, the Government will provide the Agency Chiefs Tribal Council Community Justice Program with $147,734 over two years; $73,867 in fiscal year 2014-2015 and $73,867 in fiscal year 2015-2016.
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March 2015
Department of Justice Canada
