Expanding a Network of Indigenous Justice Centres

A funding agreement was struck with the Province of BC, to pilot the first three Indigenous Justice Centres in Merritt, Prince George and Prince Rupert.

Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing concerns about access to justice for Indigenous people led to a proposal to establish a virtual IJC in the summer of 2020. The success of the centre led to its continued operations, made official in 2021. The goal of the virtual centre is to provide no-cost legal services to Indigenous clients living in under-served areas of the province where access to legal advice or representation is difficult or non-existent.

BCFNJC’s first three Indigenous Justice Centres opened on January 26, 2022, with locations in:

• Merritt
• Prince George
• Prince Rupert

The Province of BC announced the Safer Communities Action Plan (SCAP), which included opening 10 new Indigenous Justice Centres to provide culturally appropriate support for Indigenous Peoples involved in the justice system.

BCFNJC sought approval from the BCAFN Special Chief Assembly to move forward with the rapid expansion plan to open the rest of the Indigenous Justice Centres, in response to SCAP funding. The resolution was carried in March, 2023.

A new Indigenous Justice Centre began operating in Chilliwack.

BCFNJC began hiring Aunties in various Indigenous Justice Centres to offer additional wraparound supports for Indigenous women, who increasingly face unique barriers and issues within the criminal justice system.

Five Indigenous Justice Centres opened their doors with locations in:

• Kelowna
• Surrey
• Vancouver
• Victoria
• Nanaimo

The eligibility requirements to access services at the Indigenous Justice Centres were updated, meaning all Indigenous people, regardless of whether they qualify for legal aid, can access free legal and outreach services at any IJC location.

New Indigenous Justice Centres were stood up in six BC communities:

• Williams Lake
• Kamloops
• Cranbrook
• Port Hardy
• Fort St. John
• Burns Lake/Hazelton

With 15 in-person Indigenous Justice Centres open, plus a virtual centre serving Indigenous people across BC, BCFNJC realized Strategy 4’s line of action A: Establish a network of 15 Justice Centres across British Columbia, in 2025.

Work continues to refine our service model to increase services available through the IJCs.

In response to staffing challenges in rural areas, BCFNJC transitioned legal services for Merritt, Fort St. John, and Port Hardy clients to the Virtual IJC, with Merritt receiving additional in-person support through the Kelowna and Kamloops centres.

This change was made to guarantee uninterrupted, culturally safe legal representation for clients in these regions, and to allow BCFNJC to focus on expanding the Virtual IJC’s capacity.

Honoring our commitment to community-informed justice, the BCFNJC issued formal letters of intent to engage with the Nations served by the Fort St. John and Port Hardy IJCs. We are actively initiating dialogues with local Chiefs, Councils, and community members to co-develop sustainable, alternative uses for the physical IJC spaces in these communities, ensuring our infrastructure remains a valuable asset for local wellness and justice priorities.

(Note: Direct engagement with Merritt-area Nations has been temporarily paused to respect the community’s capacity during active regional wildfires).