Restorative Justice Vision
Our vision is for our communities to be safe.
Restorative Justice Mission
The Justice unit will provide the communities with technical and advisory justice services to assist with effective planning, conflict resolution, and appropriate justice training.
Restorative Justice Guiding Principles and Values
- We are committed to the highest principle of respect, honoring diversity and fairness in all our dealings.
- To our colleagues and associates we owe honesty, accessibility, accountability, courtesy and loyalty.
- To our member First Nations we retain an open mind about each request and will be willing to assist or refer to the appropriate resource.
- Justice services will encourage full and open discussions in all matters; making no disrespectful remarks in or out of the office but will reserve the right to make honest and respectful criticisms.
- Justice services will endeavor to maintain proper decorum and behavior as living mentors for our youth.
- Justice services will maintain integrity and confidentially on all matter concerning our clients, associates and First Nations.
Justice services will utilize the Tribal council organization expertise within the departments, executive and political staff for the benefit of our First Nations.
Restorative Justice Unit
The services include:
- Probation: As officers of the court they supervise the court orders in our communities.
- Youth Reintegration: As a community liaison between youth released from court and their community resources.
- Courtworker: As liaisons between the court and the community they offer insight into the workings of the courts, court terminology and give direction to clients to obtain legal aid.
- Community Justice: the Officers meet with the justice committees, arrange justice gatherings, provide circle facilitation, mediation, trainings.
The program is called restorative due to the nature of our programming. Restorative being defined as the restoration of a person’s balance, spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally. Restorative justice emphasizes repairing the harm caused by crime. When those that are hurt and those doing the harm meet to decide how to do that, the results can be transformational.
FHQTC’s Justice Program is organized under four pillars:
Technical Services
Number one of the pillars is technical services. This pillar is focuses on our core restorative justice services that include the administration of the program, the staff and the programs oversight. This will include the services we already provide such as mediation, circle facilitation, negotiation and the administration of the affiliated programs – court worker, probation, and youth reintegration program.
Community Development
This pillar encompasses the justice needs of the member First Nations. The Justice Committees identify areas of concern specific to their community’s needs. The community development officers then research those concerns or issues and present the information to the respected committee. The justice unit has researched concerns such as domestic violence, anti-gang strategies, and anti-bullying in schools, crystal meth awareness, and newly legislated laws such as the Safe Neighborhoods, Safe Communities Bill C 10 and the First Nation Family Real Property Law.
TrainingThe restorative justice unit has always maintained a strong component of justice training. This includes: Mediation 1, 2 and 3. First Nation Mediation, Community Justice Forums, Stress Management, Safe Communities and justice committee training.
Governance
This initiative is in reality an identification of one of the many areas the justice unit has worked on during the years. The unit recognizes the need for laws, wills and estates information, natural law, legal life skills and legal preparation when new laws are coming into effect. The tribal council political unit has made great inroads by developing law templates for the First Nations use which will be a great help to the restorative justice unit.
Services Provided
Extrajudicial Sanctions (youth and adult)
Community Justice Forums
Consensus Circle Facilitation
Court Referrals Mediation Post/Pre Charge
Community Referrals – mediation, healing circles, FASD, suicide interventions.
Youth reintegration to community
Youth Gang Prevention and Intervention
Commissioner of Oath Services
Probation Services
Court Worker Services
Community Based Justice Initiatives
Justice Committee training
Bylaw Development/Referrals
Domestic Violence Initiative
Justice Policy Development
Section 81-84 Pre Release Plans
Indigenous Law Development
Facilitation of Community Safety Plans
Sentencing Circle Protocol Development
Anti-Gang Presentations
Cyber bullying Presentations
Training Workshops
Proposal Development
Team Building Workshops
Youth Peacemakers Training – Youth Mediation
Traditional Mediation – Level 1, 2 and 3(Resolving Conflict Constructively, Mediation Skills, Leading By Example)
First Nation Mediation Based on Tipi Teachings, Ceremonies, Healing
Self-Governance Justice Facilitation Training
Justice Committee Training
Stress ManagementFor more information contact:
Bev Poitras
Director of Restorative Justice
Bev.Poitras@fhqtc.com
