The B.C. government, in partnership with the BC First Nations Justice Council, has opened six new Indigenous Justice Centres across the province. Located in Kamloops, Williams Lake, Cranbrook, Port Hardy, Fort St. John, and a shared location for Burns Lake and Hazelton, these centres aim to provide Indigenous clients with culturally appropriate legal advice and access to essential support services. This is part of a commitment to establish 15 centres across B.C. as part of the BC First Nations Justice Strategy.
The centres focus on addressing systemic barriers faced by Indigenous peoples in the justice system, offering support in criminal defence and child protection cases. They provide free legal services to all Indigenous people, regardless of legal aid eligibility, and connect clients to additional resources like housing, employment, and mental health services. This initiative is seen as a crucial step in reconciliation and improving the justice system for Indigenous communities.
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