STANDOFF, AB – Despite the looming economic downturn in the province, the federal government has pledged more than $641,000 to maintain the Kainai Peacemaking Program, an alternative to the mainstream justice system for less serious crimes.
Macleod MP John Barlow says the funding will give the program stability.
“It’s difficult to make plans and adjustments to the program when you really don’t know where you’re going to be year to year,” said Barlow. “I’m proud to say we have made a three year commitment to this program.”
The Kainai Peacemaking Program started in 2008, using traditional Blackfoot practices taught by elders, something Blood Tribe Chief Charles Weasel Head says is key to his members.
“The high degree of our people that are in the jail system that are incarcerated is not acceptable anymore. An individual who is grounded in their culture and their history has a better opportunity to succeed.”
The program is used for criminal, civil and family law issues along with internal disputes among community members, both on and off the reserve. So far it has had an 82 percent success rate for completing the program.
“The advisors and the elders are the ones dealing with this every single day, they have told us these programs work and that this is an avenue we need to be supporting,” added Barlow.
Elder Frank Weasel Head has worked with the program from day one and says the impact it has on tribe members is long lasting.
“Some of these clients have come to me and said thank you, it meant something to them and it showed them that people care for them,” he said.
Through the 2014 economic action plan, the government has committed over $22 million dollars to the Aboriginal Justice Strategy and has added an additional $11 million for 2016-2017.
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