Investment in STC Justice Program
- EFN Staff | March 05, 2015
An integrated set of justice programs created by the Saskatoon Tribal Council is starting to show results in the community and according to Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas, they want to do more.
“The good news is they are not expanding Kilborn and Yarrow Youth Farm is shrinking,” said Chief Thomas following a press conference where the Federal Government announced another $500,000 investment over two years into the programs. “A lot of people don’t understand their rights in the justice system. They also don’t understand at times their responsibilities. These programs have helped stopped young people from graduating to Kilborn and also built our capacity in the Tribal Council to do more.”
The Saskatoon Tribal Council recently proposed taking over operations of the Yarrow Youth Farm after the Provincial Government announced its future closure. Talks with the province are ongoing and Chief Thomas is confident in a positive outcome. “We have a good relationship with the provincial crowns and I am very hopeful. If we weren’t, we wouldn’t be pursuing it.”
The three STC programs, which are cost-shared with the Province of Saskatchewan, are the STC Community Justice Program and the Extrajudicial Measures Program and Opikinawasowin Reintegration Program. The funding supports restorative justice initiatives at the community level for the Yellow Quill First Nation, Kinistin Saulteaux Nation, Muskeg Cree Nation, Muskoday First Nation, Whitecap Dakota First Nation and One Arrow First Nation.
The STC Community Justice Program includes extra-judicial sanctions and alternative measures programming for youth and adults. These include various culturally appropriate community circles, victim/offender mediation, and diversion programs. The Program also includes crime prevention and public education activities.
"We are encouraged by the success of this organization in helping to address the disproportionately high rates of victimization, crime, and incarceration experienced by Aboriginal peoples here in Saskatoon. I am pleased that our Government can support them in their continued efforts to help keep their communities safe,” said Brad Trost, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Humboldt at the announcement.
None of the announced money is for then Yarrow Youth Farm initiative but the extra resources certainly help the big picture for clients of the Tribal Council. “We have improved a lot of services and have built the capacity to expand our services. One of the services we really want to expand is dealing with the youth at the Yarrow facility,” said Chief Thomas. “We’ve pitched it to government on a fee for service on taking care of those kids. I think we can do that.”