Five Red Deer-area non-profits and First Nations are among 39 Alberta’s groups that received a total of $961,000 to support community justice initiatives.
Grants consist of one-time payments ranging from $5,000 to a maximum of $25,000. The Red Deer-area groups who received grants are: Samson Cree Nation, Central Alberta Immigrant Women's Association, Sunchild First Nation, Shining Mountains Living Community Services and John Howard Society of Red Deer.
Raye St. Denys, executive-director of Shining Mountains Living Community Services, said her group received the maximum $25,000 to expand an assessment tool, which is used like a workbook or questionnaire, to help Metis clients improve their lives. Through use of images and connecting lines, people are asked to assess various aspects, such as the strength of their community and family connections, housing, employment etc.
By focusing on self-identified areas of weakness, people can rebuild their lives, said St. Denys, — for example, by improving their relationships or living situation.
Since this kind of tool has already been developed to assess personal health and housing, the grant will allow work to begin on expanding it ito focus on justice and legal matters. This will not only help the person better understand which areas should be worked on, but also see the progess being made, said St. Denys.
She feels the tool helps probation officers and social workers better understand individuals and their needs. And "it helps them learn about Metis people... we are not the same as First Nations people."
Shining Mountains is already supporting clients going through the community justice process. St. Denys said community consultations will begin this fall on how to develop the justice tool, and she hopes to have it ready by next spring. Once it's available in English Cree and Michif languages, it will be shared across the province, she added.
Alberta Justice stated in a release that resolving legal matters outside the traditional court system is faster, cheaper and less stressful for everyone involved.
The grant program "reflects the Alberta government’s commitment to making the justice system more accessible, inclusive and responsive to the needs of the province’s diverse communities. It will give more options for resolving criminal, family and civil justice matters through a process that is culturally sensitive and aligns with people’s values."
Grants were awarded to organizations that support families and communities and include Indigenous-based organizations, as well as those dedicated to criminal matters, family law matters and multiple other legal issues. These include the development or enhancement of restorative justice programs and increasing access to justice in family law matters.
Other initiatives include providing cultural safety training to justice system professionals, increasing access to legal information for new Canadians, and carrying out assessments to identify justice needs and service gaps within the community.
Alberta Justice Minster Mickey Amery said, “I am proud of this innovative approach to alternative justice for Albertans. This grant will support organizations to boost community-driven alternatives to the formal court system to better serve their communities.”