Access to justice for Aboriginal people
- Joilene Whitehead | August 02, 2014
Who needs access to justice? Everyone, I suppose, at some point in their lives. However, it seems to me as an Aboriginal woman, that my people need it the most. There are too many Aboriginal people in provincial and federal institutions. There are too many Aboriginal people living in poverty, and in unsafe housing conditions, all the while experiencing racism. I see this and others do too, thank goodness. I work at CLASSIC and I am thankful that this organization is here for my friends, family, for Aboriginal people, and for any person in general who cannot afford a lawyer, and is denied Legal Aid.
CLASSIC Inc. began as an enthusiastic student initiative that was identified by three U of S law students. Garnering the support of community-based organizations, the College of Law, and members of the legal community, their vision became a reality.
Since 2007, CLASSIC has been providing free and professional legal services to low-income community members. CLASSIC is simultaneously a not-for-profit, community-based organization, a law office, and an educational program. All of CLASSICs programs and projects are designed to provide tangible access to justice to our community's most disadvantaged members. And its mandate is focused on Aboriginal people!
The primary way CLASSIC fills its mandate is through the Walk-in Advocacy Clinic (WAC). Under the supervision of staff lawyers, law students advise, assist, and represent clients with a variety of legal matters. The WAC is held on Monday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon only from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is a first-come, first-serve clinic where you complete an intake session. It generally takes a few days to find out if you have a matter CLASSIC is able to assist you with. In the past five years, 46% of the 3,000 clients served, self-identify as being Aboriginal!
The secondary program is the Legal Advice Clinic (LAC). This program is complementary to the WAC, because law students are not permitted to appear at the Court of Queen's Bench level for family law and more serious criminal matters. If CLASSIC students cannot assist you with your case through the WAC then you will be referred to the LAC, where possible. The LAC is held at CLASSIC and practicing lawyers from private law firms volunteer their time in the afternoon and/or evening to provide advice to low-income community members who are representing themselves in court. These clinics are occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and are by appointment only. You must have been denied Legal Aid's services for family and criminal law matters before being booked an appointment for the LAC.
The Free Legal Information Clinic (FLIC) is CLASSIC's tertiary program. The FLIC's purpose is specifically to provide legal information to the community about topics that are of particular relevance to the low-income community. These themes are: Laws and Rights about Rental Housing, Custody and Access (Family Law), Know Your Basic Rights (Criminal Law), Wills and Estates, and Bedbugs, to name some examples. These information clinics are held monthly by CLASSIC, and are sometimes held in partnership with Public Legal Education Association. Sometimes they are held at CLASSIC and other times at Station 20 West.
One of CLASSIC's philosophical objectives is to empower our clients to stand up for themselves, viewing advocacy as a partnership. We encourage our students to re-examine the traditional notion of lawyering, which is the idea of standing up and speaking for a client. Our student advocates help their clients stand up for themselves and help their voice be heard. We believe this objective is met when clients speak of being treated as equal and experience impacting their sense of self-worth.
When client's matters are resolved, and their files are closed, the client is sent a Client Survey. This survey does not contain any identifying information to allow for confidential and honest feedback. Many of the returned surveys contain a personal message that speaks to their emotional impact. Here are a few that we are very proud of:
- CLASSIC treated us with dignity, showing that we were people as much as anyone else was. That's what makes me comfortable with them.
- They were caring toward my feelings of the issues that were very personal. I really appreciate that.
- Words cannot describe the justice, pride, and positiveness [my student advocate] provided me with. It meant a lot to me that someone thought I was worth the effort to do the work needed to represent me. Although it was stressful it was worth the effort to stand up for myself.
CLASSIC works toward developing partnerships with other non-profits, and Aboriginal organizations. We understand the importance of being a part of the community not just existing within the community. CLASSIC has actively sought to stay attune to the community's needs, to collaborate to meet those needs, and to promote services in the community. We welcome any and all formal or informal collaboration from new or existing organizations.
One thing I have noted during my employment with CLASSIC is that it has received very little funding support from Aboriginal enterprises and Aboriginal funding opportunities, despite our application efforts. This is alarming as an Aboriginal woman working within a non-profit, charitable organization whose mission is focused on Aboriginal people, and seeing how vital CLASSICs services are to my people.
CLASSIC and I are extremely thankful for the support we have received now and in the past. However, demand for our services is overwhelming. Our funding opportunities are declining. And CLASSIC desperately needs to increase its funding. If you are a First Nation organization, or an organization with an Aboriginal focussed mandate with events, opportunities, or ideas for funding strategies please contact me.
We appreciate any and all donations no matter how great or small. You can donate online or you can send a cheque payable to: CLASSIC, with your name and address, so that we can provide you with a charitable tax receipt for donations over $20. Our address is 123 20th Street West, Saskatoon SK S7M 0W7.
MISSIONG STATEMENT: CLASSIC works toward access to justice with low-income, marginalized Saskatchewan residents, with attention to the needs of Aboriginal peoples, through a legal clinic that meets the needs of the community.
This provides law and inter-disciplinary students with experiential learning, new insights into the cultural and social reality of law, and fosters an ethic of social justice.