WINNEPEG, Man.-Working with Indigenous communities to assume greater responsibility for the administration of justice in their communities is an important part of the federal government's efforts to decrease the disproportionate rates of victimization, crime and incarceration among Indigenous people in Canada.

In early March, the Honorable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and the Southern Chiefs' Organization (SCO) met to discuss the SCO's First Nations Justice Strategy Program and justice priorities in their communities.

SCO's First Nations Justice Strategy Program uses a restorative justice model that reflects Indigenous legal traditions, promotes safer communities, and helps to reduce the rate of overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system. Indigenous people are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, both as victims and offenders. In 2016, Indigenous people in Manitoba made up 18 percent of the population, and Indigenous adults represented 74 percent of admissions to provincial custody.

SCO's program also helps offenders take accountability for their actions, improves victim outcomes, and provides opportunities for healing and reintegration. Restorative justice programs take various forms, occur at all stages of the criminal justice system and enable Indigenous communities to utilize Indigenous legal traditions that contribute to a peaceful, safe Canadian society.

To support SCO's First Nations Justice Strategy Program, Minister Lametti announced $689,160 over three years in renewed federal funding for the SCO First Nations Justice Strategy Program through the Indigenous Justice Program.

Established in 1999, SCO represents 34 southern First Nation communities in Manitoba. SCO's First Nations Justice Strategy Program currently operates in Sagkeeng, Long Plain, Waywayseecappo, Pine Creek, Sandy Bay and Pinaymootang.

"The Southern Chiefs' Organization (SCO) restoration of traditional systems of justice addresses decades of systemic failure. The SCO Justice Strategy is a model which has proven positive outcomes. This is a key initiative for healing and redress for our citizens," says Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of the Southern Chiefs' Organization

Across Canada, participants of Indigenous Justice Program-funded programs were 43 percent less likely to re-offend after one year and 37 percent less likely to re-offend after eight years in comparison to non-participants.

In November 2018, federal, provincial and territorial Justice and Public Safety Ministers agreed to increase the use of restorative justice processes by a minimum target of 5 percent per jurisdiction, where possible, over the next three years.