British Columbia Law Institute Paper Looks at Indigenous-Led Conflict Resolution

September 5, 2025September 5, 2025ajrn1 Leave a comment

A recently published paper by the British Columbia Law Institute (BCLI) explores dispute resolution within Indigenous communities. The paper looks at approaches to Indigenous-led conflict resolution, points of friction where Indigenous and state laws intersect, and interjurisdictional support of First Nations justice systems. Recognition and state support of First Nations legal orders are important for fostering trust and acknowledging the legitimacy of co-existing systems. The paper offers several ways to ground this recognition and support.

Navigating Shared Waters: Study Paper on Indigenous-Led Conflict Resolution by the British Columbia Law Institute is available online here: https://www.bcli.org/wp-content/uploads/BCLI-Study-Paper-on-Indigenous-Led-Conflict-Resolution.pdf.

New Report Uses Socio-Legal Analysis and Data to Examine Consumer Racial Profiling

August 14, 2025August 14, 2025ajrn1 Leave a comment

Findings published in a new report underscore the prevalence of consumer racial profiling in Canada. The report describes consumer racial profiling as the experience of “an Indigenous, Black or other racialized persons, predominantly being followed around, singled out for scrutiny, or closely monitored by a clerk or guard who suspects they may steal or do something else criminal.”

The report uses socio-legal analysis, empirical data, and public health research to show how this underrecognized phenomenon acts as a present-day expression of colonialism and systemic racism. Consumer racial profiling represents a threat to reconciliation efforts, with the report’s authors calling for Indigenous-specific remedies to address the harms it presents. The report also discusses how consumer racial profiling is interrelated with legal consciousness, systemic discrimination, and access to justice.

Indigenous Consumer Racial Profiling in Canada: A Neglected Human Rights Issue was written by Dr. Lorne Foster and Dr. Lesley Jacobs. The report is available in full here: https://www.strongascedar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Signed-Expert-Report-on-Indigenous-Consumer-Racial-Profiling.pdf. The official press release is available here: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/new-expert-report-reveals-harms-of-indigenous-consumer-racial-profiling-in-canada-report-submitted-as-evidence-in-canadian-tire-human-rights-complaint-879720617.html.

Justice Canada Releases First Federal Indigenous Justice Strategy

March 11, 2025March 11, 2025ajrn1 Leave a comment

Canada’s Department of Justice, in collaboration with First Nations, Inuit and Métis published the first federal Indigenous Justice Strategy. The Indigenous Justice Strategy seeks to “advance effective and concrete measures, shaped by the lived experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis, to improve Canada’s justice system and to support the revitalization of Indigenous laws.”

The first phase of the Indigenous Justice Strategy was pre-engagement, which took place during the summer of 2021. This was followed by Indigenous-led and Justice Canada-led engagement; reporting and development; validation; and the publication of the final Indigenous Justice Strategy on 10 March 2025. As part of its vision, the Indigenous Justice Strategy report notes that, “the Indigenous Justice Strategy aims to implement progressive and transformative reforms throughout the justice system to meaningfully address systemic discrimination and the overrepresentation of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people in contact with the Canadian justice system.”

In addition to presenting a vision, the Indigenous Justice Strategy report outlines (i) Principles and Goals, (ii) the Implementation of the Indigenous Justice Strategy, (iii) Priority Actions, (iv) First Nations Priorities, (v) Inuit Priorities, and (vi) Métis Priorities, among other items. Priority Actions discussed in the report include the following:

Collaborative relationship and accountability
Long-term and predictable funding
Justice and wellness
Administration of justice and access to justice – policing
Administration of justice and access to justice – corrections
Administration of justice and access to justice – revitalization and enforcement
Administration of justice and access to justice – legislation

The Indigenous Justice Strategy is available in English here: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/ijr-dja/ijs-sja/tijs-lsja/index.html.

Stratégie en matière de justice autochtone est disponible en français ici : https://www.justice.gc.ca/fra/sjc-csj/dja-ijr/sja-ijs/lsja-tijs/index.html.

The Justice Canada news release about the Indigenous Justice Strategy is available here: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-justice/news/2025/03/canadas-first-federal-indigenous-justice-strategy-to-address-systemic-discrimination-and-overrepresentation-in-the-canadian-justice-system.html.