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YORKTON TRIBAL COUNCIL

"Building a Better Tomorrow, Today

Remembering Yesterday's Values"

TRIBAL JUSTICE UNIT SERVICES

MISSION STATEMENT

·         To improve the quality of life of the First Nations and Aboriginal people in the rural and urban environment by supporting and/or providing self-determined activities which will encourage equal participation and treatment of First Nations and Aboriginal people in Canadian society and the Canadian Justice system; 

·         To provide services in the area of Justice administration which are sensitive to the cultural needs of First Nations and Aboriginal people in rural and urban environments;

·         To administer and facilitate the development and implementation of a wide variety of programs and services in the area of Justice and Justice administration which will effectively address the needs and concerns of the First Nations and Aboriginal people with regards to the Canadian Criminal justice System;

·         Through consensus based decision making and through effective networking and cooperation with outside agencies we will progressively develop a Justice system administration of services that aids n creating  an environment whereby each individual, family, and community is enabled to grow to their fullest physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual potential;

·         To develop and implement a framework of services in the area of Social Justice administration which are founded upon the Treaty Rights and Inherent Rights of First Nations and Aboriginal people to self determination and administering the social needs of our people;

·         To develop and implement this framework of First Nations and Aboriginal controlled services while drawing on the wisdom and guidance of Native Elders, Community Representatives, and First Nations and/or Aboriginal Youth;

·         To continue to the betterment of mainstream Canadian Society as a whole by developing and implementing self-determined approaches which actively address the issues of social distress on the First Nation and Aboriginal communities.

STRATEGIC MANDATE

·         To develop an effective Indian Administration of Justice delivery services which would employ and utilize Native culture, values and customs.  In doing so, creating the existence of a self-determined process of Indian Justice Administration based upon the Spirit and Intent of the Treaty and also based upon the Inherent Right of First Nations and Aboriginal people;

·         To determine the Social Justice needs the YTC First Nations members, as well as the Aboriginal community within and around the City of Yorkton.  To facilitate and or assist in refining the strategic objectives of the First Nation and Aboriginal communities and to assist in meeting those objectives;

·         To create partnership arrangements with the Canadian Criminal Justice System and it's existing services and effective model of alternative approaches to the delivery of Justice Services which more adequately meet the needs of Indian communities and their desire for holistic community restoration;

·         Through the process of consultation and coordination, establish a Tribal Justice network which would strategically identify a more socially practical and culturally suitable avenue of criminal justice administration and service delivery;

·         To ensure that all members of the Yorkton Tribal Council's member First Nations, as well as the Aboriginal community within and around the City of Yorkton have adequate input into the development and implementation of this framework of Justice delivery services. 

   Based upon the research and evaluation conducted by the YTC's Tribal Justice Unit, we are actively formulating programs to combat the high rate of repeat offenders, and incarcerated people of First Nations and Aboriginal Communities;

   We at the Yorkton Tribal Council's Tribal Justice Unit believe that in order to combat the  problems facing First Nations and Aboriginal Communities we must examine and address the underlying issues facing the Native communities as a whole,  Theses underlying issues include such problems as:

·         Unacceptable high unemployment figures;

·         Unacceptable high school drop out rates;

·         High teen pregnancy rates;

·         Erosion of Social and Cultural values;

·         High rate of alcohol and drug abuse;

·         High rate of physical and sexual abuse.

    While basing the principles of the need for the Tribal Justice Unit upon a concept of self-determination and inherent rights of First Nations and Aboriginal peoples of Canada, we also believe that we must work in partnership and cooperation with the existing services of the mainstream Justice System.  We believe that there must be an acknowledgment by both the Native and Non-Native communities that the present day status-quo cannot continue.

    The Tribal Justice Unit firmly believes that First Nations and Aboriginal Communities can and will contribute to the building of a better society for all Canadians.  We believe that this can only be through cooperation, respect, and partnership.

The Tribal Justice Unit presently offers a wide range of services which includes:

COURT WORKERS SERVICES

Service locations include:

·         Kamsack

·         Pelly/Preeceville

·         Canora

·         Yorkton

·         Broadview

·         Surrounding First Nations communities

ADULT/YOUTH ALTERNATIVE MEASURES WORKERS

The caseworkers provide a diversionary service to Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal offenders facing criminal charges.

Depending on the seriousness of the charge(s), the offender may have the option of accessing the program before he/she enters the court room.

Service locations include:

·         Kamsack

·         Pelly/Preeceville

·         Canora

·         Yorkton

·         Broadview

·         Melville

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COORDINATION

These staff members are sanctioned by Saskatchewan Justice and Justice Canada as well as by the Chiefs of the Yorkton Tribal Council to coordinate the development and implementation of Aboriginal Justice related services in the City of Yorkton and surrounding areas.

Tribal Justice Unit Staff

·  A/Tribal Justice Unit Director,                                             Nola Mahingen

·  North Justice Coordinator,                                                  Vickie Shingoose

·  South Justice Coordinator,                                                 Shawna Bear

·  North Sectorial Court Worker,                                             Denzil Kitchemonia Jr.

·  South Sectorial Court Worker,                                            Carol Lavallee

·  South AMP-EJS Casworker                                                Darlene Taypotat

·  North AMP-EJS Caseworker                                               Lorraine Dareichuk

·  Tribal Justice Secretary/Data Entry Clerk                             Sherri Nelson

North Reintegration Youth Caseworker                                   Alvin Quewezance

South Reintegration Youth Caseworker                                   Phillip Crowe