Latest news with #KoryWilson
Toronto Star
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
BC First Nations Justice Council Opens an Indigenous Diversion Centre on Lheidli T'enneh territory (Prince George, BC)
Lheidli T'enneh Territory, Prince George, BC, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The BC First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC) opens the doors to the Indigenous Diversion Centre (IDC) on Lheidli T'enneh territory, commonly known as Prince George. The IDC is the first of its kind in Canada, hosting an innovative pilot program that will divert Indigenous people from criminal justice system involvement and instead offer pathways to accountability, healing and support. 'Standing up BC's first Indigenous Diversion Centre, in Lheidli T'enneh territory, is a milestone achievement in the advancement of Indigenous-led justice reform. The BC First Nations Justice Strategy, under Strategy 1, has a presumption of diversion as a core justice value that can break harmful cycles, decrease Indigenous representation in jails, and help Indigenous people access culturally appropriate supports and resources. We hold up First Nations and Indigenous communities, the justice partners, and the collaborators for supporting a clear pathway to this work. Our team is dedicated and ready to work hard to realize the success of these programs.'—Kory Wilson (Hemas Kla-Lee-Lee-Kla), Chair, BC First Nations Justice Council
Hamilton Spectator
22-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
BC First Nations Justice Council Opens an Indigenous Diversion Centre on Lheidli T'enneh territory (Prince George, BC)
Lheidli T'enneh Territory, Prince George, BC, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The BC First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC) opens the doors to the Indigenous Diversion Centre (IDC) on Lheidli T'enneh territory, commonly known as Prince George. The IDC is the first of its kind in Canada, hosting an innovative pilot program that will divert Indigenous people from criminal justice system involvement and instead offer pathways to accountability, healing and support. 'Standing up BC's first Indigenous Diversion Centre, in Lheidli T'enneh territory, is a milestone achievement in the advancement of Indigenous-led justice reform. The BC First Nations Justice Strategy, under Strategy 1, has a presumption of diversion as a core justice value that can break harmful cycles, decrease Indigenous representation in jails, and help Indigenous people access culturally appropriate supports and resources. We hold up First Nations and Indigenous communities, the justice partners, and the collaborators for supporting a clear pathway to this work. Our team is dedicated and ready to work hard to realize the success of these programs.'—Kory Wilson (Hemas Kla-Lee-Lee-Kla), Chair, BC First Nations Justice Council With financial support offered through Public Safety Canada's Northern and Indigenous Crime Prevention Fund (NICPF), the IDC now offers a post-release diversion program that follows an indigenous ceremonial modality that focuses on the root causes of offending by providing a caring cultural environment where true rehabilitation and healing can occur. The IDC houses a trauma-informed multidisciplinary team of dedicated professionals who will support IDC participants in conflict with the law avoid the revolving-door of arrest, prosecution and incarceration. The IDC serves First Nations, Métis and Inuit adults residing in Prince George in two streams: Post-Release Diversion Program Individuals who are released from a correctional centre can struggle to reintegrate, without dedicated supports and a sense of belonging. Indigenous adults who are leaving Provincial and Federal correctional facilities and have plans to reside in Prince George are welcome at the Centre to access our wide range of services and supports. The post-release program is now open. Pre-Charge Diversion Program (coming soon) In partnership with Prince George RCMP, the program will divert Indigenous people from being charged with an eligible offence and instead offer enrollment in the program. The staff will develop an individualized 90-day Diversion Plan where participants commit to a set of activities in order to have their charges dropped. Working with a dedicated social worker, participants can advance their long-term healing goals beyond the 90 days. The pre-charge diversion program will open in the Fall of 2025. Indigenous Diversion Centre Activities Include: The Indigenous Diversion Centre is located at 1475 10th Avenue, Prince George, BC. More information can be found online here. While the centre is now open with the post-release program running, IDC staff are planning for a formal grand opening, with a community open house in the Fall of 2025 to coincide with the launch of the Pre-Charge Diversion Program. -30- Quick Facts ABOUT THE BCFNJC The BC First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC) was created by the BC Assembly of First Nations, the First Nations Summit, and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs who together form the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC). BCFNJC represents BC First Nations on justice-related issues to bring about transformative change to the legal system. BCFNJC is guided by the unique and comprehensive BC First Nations Justice Strategy (the Strategy) which was jointly developed by the BC First Nations Justice Council, BC First Nations communities and the Province of British Columbia. The Strategy advances 25 individual strategies along two tracks of change: reforming the current criminal justice system and restoring Indigenous justice systems, legal traditions, and structures. Today, BCFNJC is an expanding non-profit organization guided by the vision and voices of Indigenous leadership, including our Elders and Knowledge Keepers. Our team members, who have diverse professional, cultural, and community expertise are working hard to implement the Justice Strategy and advance Indigenous self-determination over justice. With the direction and support of First Nations communities, work will continue to transform the mainstream colonial justice system and champion innovative, Indigenous-led justice solutions. Visit Tracking Justice for more information. Attachments
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
B.C. chief says he's ‘very concerned' about bill to fast-track major projects
Regional Chief Terry Teegee speaks as he is joined by AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, back left, and Chair of the B.C. First Nations Justice Council Kory Wilson (Hemas Kla-Lee-Lee-Kla) on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick The regional chief for British Columbia said Wednesday that governments should not speed up major projects at the expense of First Nations rights, warning that the projects will be slowed down by court challenges if First Nations are not consulted from the start. 'We're asking the government to follow your own laws,' Terry Teegee said Wednesday, citing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that the federal government adopted. The government of Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced major economic legislation last week. The bill has two parts — one to break down federal barriers to internal trade and the other to fast-track major projects. It sets out five criteria to determine whether a project is in the 'national interest.' Those criteria include the project's likelihood of success, whether it would strengthen the country's resiliency and advance the interests of Indigenous Peoples, and whether it would contribute to economic growth in an environmentally responsible way. But First Nations leaders say their interests weren't considered when the legislation was being drafted and that they were given just one week to review a briefing document on the bill. 'It's probably going to take a lot longer to get approval for some of these projects because we're going to end up in court,' Teegee said. 'This is where we end up.' The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations agrees. 'It's not about the bill itself. It's about the process. And I think that ramming something through when you should be hearing from Canadians, from industry, from First Nations … is the wrong way to go,' Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said. 'You don't want to end back up in court. You don't want to have civil unrest. Why not just invite us to the table?' This report by Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press, was first published June 11, 2025.
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
B.C. chief says he's ‘very concerned' about bill to fast-track major projects
Regional Chief Terry Teegee speaks as he is joined by AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, back left, and Chair of the B.C. First Nations Justice Council Kory Wilson (Hemas Kla-Lee-Lee-Kla) on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick The regional chief for British Columbia said Wednesday that governments should not speed up major projects at the expense of First Nations rights, warning that the projects will be slowed down by court challenges if First Nations are not consulted from the start. 'We're asking the government to follow your own laws,' Terry Teegee said Wednesday, citing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that the federal government adopted. The government of Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced major economic legislation last week. The bill has two parts — one to break down federal barriers to internal trade and the other to fast-track major projects. It sets out five criteria to determine whether a project is in the 'national interest.' Those criteria include the project's likelihood of success, whether it would strengthen the country's resiliency and advance the interests of Indigenous Peoples, and whether it would contribute to economic growth in an environmentally responsible way. But First Nations leaders say their interests weren't considered when the legislation was being drafted and that they were given just one week to review a briefing document on the bill. 'It's probably going to take a lot longer to get approval for some of these projects because we're going to end up in court,' Teegee said. 'This is where we end up.' The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations agrees. 'It's not about the bill itself. It's about the process. And I think that ramming something through when you should be hearing from Canadians, from industry, from First Nations … is the wrong way to go,' Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said. 'You don't want to end back up in court. You don't want to have civil unrest. Why not just invite us to the table?' This report by Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press, was first published June 11, 2025.
CBC
22-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
New Indigenous Justice Strategy aims to address overincarceration of Indigenous people
Indigenous justice experts are welcoming Canada's new Indigenous Justice Strategy, but some are disappointed at its lack of concrete next steps. The strategy was released on March 10 and lays out 26 priority actions aimed at addressing systemic discrimination and overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system. It was created with the input of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis community members, organizations and provincial and territorial governments. "I think any strategy that advances and provides access for Indigenous people and is aimed and targeted at removing overrepresentation or reversing the overrepresentation is extremely important," said Kory Wilson, chair of the B.C. First Nations Justice Council. The B.C. First Nations Justice Council was created in 2015 to work on transforming the justice system to be more equitable for Indigenous people in the province. It is working to implement the B.C. First Nations Justice Strategy that was created in 2020. Wilson said the B.C. strategy has had a lot of success for Indigenous people in the province and hopes the national strategy would do the same. "The reality is the justice system as exists in Canada needs to be more accessible and more aware of the challenges facing Indigenous people so there needs to be an overhaul of the entire system," said Wilson. The incarceration rate of Indigenous persons in provincial custody was about nine times higher than for non-Indigenous persons in 2020/2021, according to Statistics Canada. On an average day in 2020/2021 there were 42.6 Indigenous people in provincial custody per 10,000 population, compared to four non-Indigenous people. The strategy contains specific chapters on priorities for First Nations, Métis and Inuit. The First Nations chapter focuses on reforming the justice system to better include First Nations laws and traditions to deal with the overrepresentation and discrimination First Nations people currently face. "The revitalization of Indigenous laws and Indigenous ways of knowing and how we've worked in the past has to start to be recognized," said Wilson. The Inuit chapter of the strategy talks about the need for increased infrastructure like housing, shelters, and transitional housing to help reduce interactions with the justice system, prevent crimes and support rehabilitation, as well as ensuring there are services, policing, and materials available in Inuktut. Implementation a concern Christina Cook, a lawyer in B.C. and a member of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation in Manitoba, said she is cautiously optimistic about the Indigenous Justice Strategy but that "It's also a bit disappointing that the report doesn't contain a lot of concrete next steps. There's a lot of aspirational language contained therein." Cook said she is happy to see the government take steps to address systemic discrimination and overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system, but hope the implementation leads to real change. "It's a lot of recycling of previous reports and recommendations, which is frustrating, but it could be transformative and positive, could it actually result in concrete changes," said Cook. Justice Canada said in a statement that the strategy will guide continued collaboration with Indigenous people and governments as regional implementation plans are developed over the next two years. Cook said her concern about implementation comes from the lack of action on previous government reports like Manitoba's Aboriginal Justice Inquiry or the national inquiry for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. "It's easy to diagnose the problem, but it's hard to actually fix it," said Cook.
