National Indigenous Justice Strategy Engagement Session – Vancouver

PLANNED ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS

First Nations leaderships (Chief and Council), community justice service providers, community members, Elders, youth, etc. are invited to participate.

BACKGROUND

The BC First Nations Justice Council (“BCFNJC”) and the First Nations Leadership Council (“FNLC”) invite you to participate in one of four National Indigenous Justice Strategy (“NIJS”) in-person regional sessions, and three virtual dialogue circles (for Elders, Women and 2S+, and Youth). The engagement is being conducted in three phases:

1. a provincial forum (held on March 8, 2023)
2. four regional sessions; and
3. three dedicated virtual dialogue circles (Elders, Women and 2S+, and Youth)

Backgrounder

Engagement Report

PLANNED ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS

A) In-person Regional Sessions:

IN-PERSON AGENDA

Two members of your community are invited to join us for a half-day engagement session in the following regions:

1. Williams Lake October 3, 2023 – Longhouse (Cariboo Friendship Society) – 12pm to 4pm
2. Terrace October 13, 2023 – Kitsumkalum Hall – 12pm to 4pm
3. Victoria October 17, 2023 – KWENCH – 12pm to 4pm
4. Vancouver November 6, 2023 – Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre – 12pm to 4pm

More than two members are welcome to attend, however, we are only able to reimburse travel costs for two community members to attend the in-person regional session being held closest to your community. You will be required to provide all receipts if you are requesting travel reimbursement. A meal will be provided for the in-person sessions.

The objective of the regional sessions is to determine what the core justice priorities are for each of the regions as related to the NIJS. Specifically, the session will:

1. Provide an overview of BC First Nations Justice Strategy and areas not contemplated by the Strategy
   that fall under federal jurisdiction (and will need to be included in the National Indigenous Justice
   Strategy),
2. Background on NIJS, a discussion of engagement to date,
3. Dialogue on regional and community priorities.

B) Virtual Dialogue Sessions:

VIRTUAL AGENDA

1. Elders November 14th, 2023 – 10am to 11:30am
2. Youth November 14th, 2023 – 1pm to 2:30pm
3. Women and 2S+ November 15th, 2023 – 1pm to 2:30pm
4. Virtual Dialogue Session November 17th, 2023 – 1pm to 2:30pm

Three targeted discussions with Elders, Women and 2S+, and Youth will be held virtually. The dialogue circles will provide space for considerations and priorities of the specific groups identified above. As many members belonging to one or more of the communities identified above are welcome to attend.

PLANNED OUTCOME

Learnings from the engagements will inform a fulsome report which will include results of the March 2023 provincial forum. The report will clearly outline BC First Nations expectations for the National Indigenous Justice Strategy, including where it intersects and supports the BC First Nations Justice Strategy, and where broader federal-led interventions are necessary to transform the criminal justice system in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Please contact: [email protected] for any questions, concerns, feedback or even for sharing stories and information regarding the NIJS.