NAN Legal expanding alternatives to jail

Pikangikum, Weagamow and Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug community members now have access to Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation’s Restorative Justice and Talking Together programs.
NALSC recently entered into a protocol with the Ontario Provincial Police similar to the protocol it has with Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service for pre-charge diversions to the Restorative Justice program and referrals to the Talking Together program.
“We have now succeeded in getting the same protocol with the OPP, who service Pikangikum, Weagamow and Big Trout Lake,” said Celina Reitberger, executive director of NALSC. “It has had a good start but we found, with the OPP as well, that the officers need good training. Where we have managed to train the officers, we are getting the diversions.”
Reitberger said NALSC has not trained all the NAPS officers to date, so they are planning to train those officers this fall.
“We want to do training as soon as possible with the OPP officers as well,” Reitberger said.
Reitberger said diversions have been increasing for the two programs.
The Restorative Justice program is based on community accountability conferencing and adapted for the needs of Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities by integrating local traditional processes and practices.
The Talking Together Program is a dispute resolution method based on traditional circles used since time immemorial to restore harmony between family members. It provides an alternative to the court process, which frequently results in children being removed from their home community, and returns control to First Nations concerning the planning and protection of their children.