Indigenous peoples courts: How they can help offenders – CBC

In some cases, judges will sit down with offender, elders in sentencing circles

Aug 23, 2017

The idea of a courtroom for Indigenous people is a new concept for the City of Ottawa, but they have been around in other jurisdictions for years.

The first one opened in Toronto in 2001, but since then others have popped up in Thunder Bay and Brantford.

While few details have been publicly released about how the Ottawa court will operate, experts say they are key to steering Indigenous offenders onto a path of rehabilitation.

The Toronto-based Aboriginal Legal Services is funding two dedicated worker positions in Ottawa to assist Indigenous offenders as they navigate the criminal justice system.