Community the key word at Indigenous justice forum

There were calls for more community involvement in sentencing and more resources to help communities provide support for inmates once they're released during last night's panel discussion on Indigenous justice.

About a dozen people shared their stories about the justice system at a forum in Yellowknife Wednesday night. 

• 'We can take the responsibility': Leaders discuss Indigenous justice at CBC forum
• REPLAY | CBC North hosts Indigenous justice forum in Yellowknife

"I think communities can deal with issues themselves and come up with solutions," said Wade Blake, N.W.T.'s director of community justice and community policing, during the discussion.

"I think [community justice] has done way better for communities and individuals than the revolving criminal justice system."

Blake helps implement a community justice initiative called the Diversion Program that works with communities to implement their own restorative justice programs, such as sentencing circles.

He said that over the last four years, more than 1,000 cases have been diverted from the court system by using community justice programs.

In order to help communities get more involved in the justice system, audience member John Westergreen said that more transitional housing is needed for people post-incarceration. Westergreen spoke about the private transitional housing he offers in Yellowknife.

"I think that transitional housing is desperately needed especially for those with alcohol and drug addictions," Westergreen said. "We don't kick people out because they have addictions. We want to hear them."

Many people at the forum spoke about their concerns about the high prevalence of alcohol-related crimes in the North. About 85 per cent of people sentenced for crimes in the N.W.T. say alcohol or drugs contributed to their criminal activity.

Having a treatment centre closer to home could make it easier for Northerners to get help.

"I went to a treatment centre two years ago," said Tanya Kidston.

"I wanted to take my treatment here in Yellowknife. I'm born and raised. My whole life has been here in the North. It was really hard. I wanted some kind of support.

"I think an addictions centre, a treatment centre here at home for local people would help so much."

Parker Kennedy, the territory's Director of of Corrections, said that those who work in the justice system first-hand know that something needs to change.

"We try and do the best we can and I believe we are," said Kennedy.

"Do we need to get better? I believe we need to get better. Have we been 100 per cent successful? No, we're not.

"It takes more than the programs we're offering within the facility. We have our offenders for a short period of time. It's really important that when they leave our institution, the community needs to pick up the pieces and carry on with whatever success they had in our facility."

Panellist and former CBC broadcaster Paul Andrew had the last — and perhaps celebrated word — of the night.

"In the community, three quarters of the community might be sober. But guess what we concentrate on? That one quarter. That one quarter that might be out of control. They're the ones who control our communities," Andrew said, as the audience broke out in applause.

"It's time for sober people to take back our communities."