The snow fell softly over Vancouver that morning, catching in the cedar boughs outside the Indigenous Justice Centre. Inside, a young man sat with his hands folded tightly in his lap, his knee bouncing nervously. At nineteen, Andrew had never imagined he’d find himself here charged, scared, and staring down a system that too often saw young Indigenous men like him as problems rather than people.
The charges weighed heavy, break and enter, possession of stolen property. The words sounded so cold, so final. But the truth, as always, was more complicated.
A Different Kind of Justice
From their first meeting, the advocates at the IJC saw what the court documents didn’t, a good kid who’d made a bad choice. Andrew had already been doing the hard work before his case even began, attending counseling, applying for jobs, dreaming of studying automotive technology. He wasn’t running from accountability; he was already building his own road towards a better future.
When the team suggested a path that would keep him out of court and connect him with Indigenous-led restorative justice Andrew sat up straighter. “You mean I could make things right without… without all this?” He gestured at the legal paperwork spread across the table.
Within forty minutes, the Crown agreed. And not out of generosity, but because the strength of Indigenous law left no ethical alternative.
The Circle Way
At Vancouver Aboriginal Transformative Justice Services, Andrew found something he hadn’t realized he needed, space to breathe. In the healing circle, surrounded by Elders and community support, he wasn’t just “the accused.” He was a young Indigenous man with a story, with potential, with people who believed in him.
The process wasn’t easy. There were hard truths to face, amends to consider, a healing plan to follow. But for the first time since that fateful night, Andrew felt hope instead of shame.
He was a young man being held accountable by the same legal traditions that had guided his Ancestors.
The colonial system calls this restorative justice. But this isn’t some new experiment. This is how we’ve governed ourselves since the time of Creation. The only thing ‘alternative’ here is Canada’s system.
The process honoured what courts often ignore, which is the power of intergenerational responsibility (how history shapes accountability,) collective healing (how harm affects the whole community,) and transformative accountability (how justice should restore community balance.)
A New Beginning
When the letter arrived weeks later confirming the stay of proceedings, Andrew’s mother pressed it to her heart. No criminal record. No shadow following her son into adulthood. Just clean hands and a clear path forward.
That evening, as the sun set over the water, Andrew walked with his father along the beach. Thinking about how our people have always believed in second chances. That’s what this was, not letting one mistake define your story.
The Story Behind the Story
This story reveals patterns we know too well, how systems designed to “help” often punish instead. But it also shows that when advocates understand colonial harm, they can disrupt these cycles. The lawyers here did three critical things; They recognized this wasn’t about “crime” but about systemic failures, they refused to let one moment define a whole life, and they centered Indigenous ways of justice over state punishment.
Andrew’s case demonstrates how to practice law as liberation:
- We challenged the default path of prosecution by presenting alternative measures as smarter justice
- We leveraged Gladue principles to show the human behind the charge
- We invested in community solutions rather than carceral ones
This outcome didn’t happen by accident. It required lawyers willing to do more than process paperwork, it required a justice system open to alternatives, and with community supports that only exist because of Indigenous Ways of Being.
Real justice happens when we name the systemic roots of “crime”, and when we create space for accountability that heals rather than harms, a system that measures success by restored lives rather than closed files.
Like salmon returning upstream, this work goes against powerful currents. But with each case like Andrew’s, we make the waters safer for those who follow. This is how systems change, one story, one life, one transformed outcome at a time.
As an Indigenous organization, we anonymize stories because our Kins’ pain has been exploited too often. These narratives are shared with care: names changed; details held sacred. No one should have to relive hardship to educate others. Our people carry enough. The burden of advocacy doesn’t belong to system survivors alone. This is how we reclaim narrative sovereignty, by centering safety, not sensationalism. By remembering that behind every statistic is a relative who deserves to heal without scrutiny. And by proving that truth can be told without exploitation.
—BCFNJC Storytelling Protocol
Client Services Summary
Client’s voice: Andrew was proactive, open and deeply apologetic from the start. They took responsibility for their actions and expressed the goals for their future, especially when they mentioned how much they wanted to pursue automotive studies at the Vancouver Community College.
IJC Cultural/Emotional Support: Throughout the process, Andrew spoke proudly of their culture and family. They were connected with Indigenous community resources and participated in the Vancouver Aboriginal Transformative Justice Services Society. This support was essential in their healing process and allowed for a culturally appropriate resolution.
Support with Preparation: In preparing Andrew’s resolution proposal, IJC staff focused on understanding their personal situation, their proactive steps, and their willingness to engage in accountability. The preparation included a detailed interview, understanding their dreams, and exploring the role of alternative measures for their case.
Teamwork: The Staff Lawyer was instrumental in the initial client meeting, and together, the Staff Lawyer and her articling student collaborated with VATJSS for an Indigenous-led, alternative approach to justice. Working with this community organization was a key part of the team’s approach to offering a holistic solution.
Legal Approach: Instead of opting for a traditional court trial, Andrew’s IJC support team recommended alternative measures through the VATJSS Justice Program. This allowed Andrew to engage in a healing process through community circles, which aligned with their cultural values and focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
Outcome: Andrew completed the alternative measures program successfully, and a stay of proceedings was entered in court. As a result, the charges were dropped, and Andrew will not face a criminal record. This outcome provided Andrew with a second chance to continue their life without being defined by their mistake.
