Justice Programs among the Aboriginal Community in Canada - Essay Example

The Canim Lake Band is among the various first nations that are found in Canada. They form part of the Secwepemec or the Shushwap nation and they total 526 people. Just like other first nations, they too have undergone many injustices dating to the Indian Act Administration including abuse at school (p1). This group had come up with a Family Violence Program whose creation highlights the importance of community participation in combating crime. It further underpins the fact that government policies often act as barriers especially when they are misinterpreted and thus do not end up benefitting their people (p1).

It has been noted that justice systems that the aborigines create and manage, serve as useful alternatives to the government’s criminal justice system (Casey 1991). Such alternatives include a wider absorption of aboriginal practices and traditions into the justice system or even creating an autonomous aboriginal justice system altogether (p1). Open-ended interviews were conducted among forty-one participants who were involved in the creation of the Family Violence program. To aid in this research, government support was enlisted in terms of research funds.

Representatives of the government were also invited to sit in the community meetings and discussions. The government’s cooperation had to be fully sought (p3). Other departments not involved in criminal justice were also invited to participate in the aboriginal initiative. Departments such as Indian and Northern Affairs Canada gave funds, as did Health Canada under their corresponding sections pertaining to family and community affairs. The Aboriginal justice department was also invited to the meetings and even to participate in funding.

However, the justice department refused to release funds (p4). Within the community, there were challenges encountered as well. Interviewees reported difficulties in opening up to others about their sexual abuse. Participants feared a lack of confidentiality owing to the high density within the area. They feared discussions from these therapeutic sessions would end up spreading to other members of the community including family members (p5). Another problem at the community level regarded the strategy to follow during the therapeutic sessions.

Without clear guidelines, people were unsure as to how to conduct the healing process for victims of sexual abuse. Despite these challenges, healing was attained by victims of sexual abuse (p7). ConclusionThe rights of marginalized communities have largely been ignored in other countries as well. The Aborigines in Australia have also been victims of sexual abuse including young children. It is only when communities such as the Canim Lake Band join and initiate their own programs of change instead of relying on political will that has often ignored them will they find solutions to the many problems that they face.