'It really is a huge step forward': Indigenous court officially opens in Edmonton
A ceremony was held Friday to officially open the new Indigenous court at Alberta's provincial courts.
"The court has been challenged to come up with better ways, more culturally appropriate ways to deal with the issues that face Indigenous communities," said Chief Judge Derek Redman.
"This is our very first concrete step in that regard."
It's part of the Alberta provincial court's Indigenous Justice Strategy, announced Wednesday, to address issues including mistrust in the justice system by Indigenous people, and the disproportionate number of Indigenous children in care and overrepresentation of Indigenous people in custody.
The court has been serving Indigenous people since February, but the official opening ceremony was held Friday, on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
"Today is a day of reflection, but it has to be more than that," said Marlene Orr, CEO of Native Counselling Services of Alberta. "It has to be a day of learning and a day of action, and in celebrating the opening of Indigenous court it really is a huge step forward in addressing the systemic issues that contribute to the overrepresentation of our people in justice and corrections."
Orr said it's designed to work with people to address historical trauma and focuses on healing and rehabilitation. It also gives Indigenous people a more culturally relevant space in the justice system.
Eagle feathers, instead of bibles or holy books, are available for affirming or swearing oaths. Translation services are offered for people wanting to go through processing in their own language, and the court has a protocol for facilitating smudging ceremonies.
Dealing primarily with bail and sentencing hearings, it's open to any accused or offender who is Indigenous and chooses to have their matter dealt with through the Indigenous court.
"They have the option to come to this court to be treated in a way differently from the mainstream," Redman said. "We try and incorporate Indigenous cultural practices, we involve Elders who can assist in the rehabilitation plan.
"Ultimately the goal is to make this court system a court system for every Albertan in the province."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.