PURPOSE

The Indigenous Court Orientation Non-Credit Micro-Credential is offered to prepare individuals interested in participating in Indigenous Courts (also known as First Nations Courts) and other justice initiatives.

This credential is intended to assist and prepare individuals to understand court principles, procedures, and the goals of Indigenous Courts, so they can contribute their knowledge and experiences to the sentencing of Indigenous individuals and assist Judges in crafting probation conditions and healing plans consistent with Indigenous values and traditions.

 

GOALS

Upon successful completion of this micro-credential, participants should be able to:

• identify the historic role of criminal law in colonization;
• discuss the over-representation of Indigenous Peoples in criminal courts and prisons;
• appraise the context of criminal behavior and neurodiversity (e.g. addictions, trauma, FASD, autism, etc.);
• express an understanding of localized Indigenous values and justice traditions;
• discuss the history and purpose of Indigenous Courts;
• integrate the role of Indigenous Peoples in Indigenous Courts;
• manage a commitment to helping the court be an instrument of reconciliation between Indigenous and settler communities and values;
• manage a commitment to self-care;
• discuss the purpose and procedures of the Provincial Court;
• apply Criminal Code and Youth Criminal Justice Act sentencing principles and options;
• review the criminal justice process from complaint through arrest, court attendance, plea and disposition; and
• collaboratively craft a healing plan for individuals who have accepted responsibility for their actions.

 

PROGRAM DURATION

The 25-hour Indigenous Court Orientation Non-Credit Micro-Credential includes three days of classroom instruction and a half-day of Indigenous Court observation.

 

EVALUATION

Evaluation will be determined by a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory assessment based on attendance of all three classroom days and the half day of court observation.

 

CREDENTIAL

Learners will receive an Indigenous Court Orientation Non-Credit Micro-Credential upon completion.

Note: Successful completion of the Non-Credit Micro-Credential is not a pre-requisite to be part of an Indigenous Court nor does the credential automatically qualify an individual to be part of an Indigenous Court. Each Community host decides on appropriate Indigenous Court candidates.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Open registration is offered to individuals interested in participating in Indigenous Courts such as (but not limited to) Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Court Navigators, RCMP Officers, First Nations Justice Council Members, and Community Service Workers.

 

PROGRAM DELIVERY LOCATION

Community-based delivery. Please contact the Director of Community Education, Chelsea Vaughan for delivery of this program in your community. Email: cvaughan@nvit.ca