In partnership with the BC Ministry of the Attorney General, the BC First Nations Justice Council is pleased to support First Nations in advancing Strategies 15 and 24 of the BC First Nations Justice Strategy, through the creation of the Community-based Justice Fund.
The Community-based Justice Fund has two streams of funding available to First Nations in the amount of $42,000 per individual community. If communities choose to apply together either at a multi-community or a Nation-level, the funding will reflect the number of communities that apply (e.g., 7 communities x $42,000 = $294,000). First Nations may only apply to one stream.
The focus of the Fund is the presumption of diversion for Indigenous people. This includes considering and applying culturally appropriate and least restrictive approaches at every point in time of an individual’s journey through the justice system with the presumption that, whenever appropriate, these alternative responses should be the first option pursued.
Stream One focuses on developing diversion-focused justice plans, advancing community engagement, and advocating for ongoing funding.
Stream Two aims to strengthen existing or new justice programming, promote self-determination and enhance justice system capacity to support community objectives.
Read more here:
Please find below the minimal reporting requirements for the funding:
Stream One: Submit a copy of the community-based justice plan for BCFNJC learning, aiming to inform the province-wide Diversion Workplan. This plan should fulfill Strategy One of the BC First Nations Justice Strategy.
Stream Two: Arrange a phone call with BCFNJC staff to discuss the learnings from the justice programming enhancement. Additionally, we kindly request photos of community events or programs, as they would be greatly appreciated.
For any inquiries regarding this funding, please reach out to Christianne Kearns, Provincial Director of Community Based Healing, at [email protected].
BCFNJC Supports: We are committed to assisting you! BCFNJC has onboarded two Diversion Project Managers to support communities in your justice planning or in-person justice engagements. The Diversion Project Managers will be contacting all First Nations communities in the upcoming months.
