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.