Williams Lake is one of six new locations destined for an Indigenous Justice Centre.
The centre will provide Indigenous people with free and direct access, in community, to culturally appropriate justice services, including legal advice and representation for criminal justice and child protection matters, said the BC First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC) in a news release.
As it announced the new centre locations on Thursday, Oct. 17, the BCFNJC said they should be open by December 2024.
The other five communities are Burns Lake, Cranbrook, Hazelton, Kamloops and Port Hardy.
When the BCFNJC was asked who they met with in Williams Lake, a spokesperson confirmed they held a leadership collaboration meeting hosted by Williams Lake First Nation Chief Willie Sellars with invites to local leadership of the Tsilhqot’in and Secwepemc Nations as well as organizations involved with justice services. A total of 22 people attended.
“Chief Sellars also hosted a community engagement session open to anyone interested in the new IJC services and 16 community members and Elders shared their hopes for the new centre."
That same week, the BCFNJC held a meeting with the Tsilhqot'in National Government and Tsilhqot'in elected leadership.
“Chief Otis Gouchin of Tŝi Deldel First Nation opened the meeting, and we discussed the needs of Tsilhqot'in people with the TNG technical staff support, and executive Director as well as the staff of the Yeqox Nilin Justice Society.”
The BC First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC) was created by the BC Assembly of First Nations, the First Nations Summit, and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs who together form the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC).
After the six new centres open there will be a total of 15 across B.C.
