On February 13th and 14th, Aboriginal Legal Services hosted an Indigenous Restorative Justice conference at the Courtyard Marriot Hotel in downtown Toronto. The two-day conference was sponsored by the combined team effort from Justice Canada (JC) and the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) and hosted by Aboriginal Legal Services, Executive Director, Chantell Barker, and […]
Read more »In early February Aboriginal Legal Services participated in a case at the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal called R. v. Cope. The case was about whether a sentencing judge had to consider the recommendations of a sentencing circle. It also was about how judges should consider Gladue factors when the victim is an Indigenous woman. […]
Read more »Aboriginal Legal Services was in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for three days in February in a case about whether the law that makes some kinds of panhandling illegal violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. ALS joined four other organizations – Justice for Children and Youth, the Income Security and Advocacy Clinic, the […]
Read more »Aboriginal Legal Services has been very busy since the Christmas Break. Aboriginal Legal Services presented at the Indigenous Child and Family Wellness Conference in Ottawa, hosted a Restorative Justice Conference in Toronto, participated in a few Court cases, and had the opportunity to meet with Canada’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice Arif Virani to […]
Read more »November 14, 2023 – ALS is excited to feature this month’s 7th Generation Role Model, Mila Nebenionquit! Mila is the daughter of Cristina Nebenionquit, who is an Aboriginal Court Worker with Aboriginal Legal Services. Mila, 10, is a member of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation. Mila leads a busy life with attending school, powwow dancing, and she […]
Read more »December 15, 2023 – The Community Council is a criminal diversion program for Indigenous charged – adult and youth – who live in Toronto. The project takes Indigenous individuals out of the criminal justice system and brings them before members of the Indigenous community. The members of the Council are people who represent a cross-section […]
Read more »On December 9, 2023, the Giiwedin Anang Program management, staff, and volunteers came together to say goodbye to the Bellwood’s Location. The program was located at the St. Mathias Church on Bellwood Street since 2020 because of Covid-19. This location was selected to accommodate the need for families to be able to gather and socially […]
Read more »December 14, 2023- Happy Holidays from OCJ-T! It’s been seven months since Gladue courts in Toronto have transitioned into the Ontario Court of Justice – Toronto (OCJ-T) located at 10 Armoury Street. Previously spread across multiple courthouses in Toronto and the GTA, Gladue court now operates every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 10am – 5pm and […]
Read more »November 30, 2023 – Aboriginal Legal Services is intervening in an upcoming court case to argue that Ontario’s anti-panhandling law discriminates against Indigenous people and violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Fair Change Community Legal Clinic started the case, and a number of other organizations became involved, including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, […]
Read more »December 7, 2023 – Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS) held its Annual General Meeting this month to present to the members the annual report. The meeting was opened in a good way with a teaching by Elder Ed Sackaney and opening drum song by Blackwolf Hart. The annual report included the President’s message, the Executive Director’s […]
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