Aboriginal Courtworker Program

The Saskatchewan Aboriginal Courtwork Program promotes access to justice by helping Indigenous adults and youth navigate the criminal and family justice systems to ensure they receive fair, equitable and culturally-relevant treatment. They work to improve understanding of legal rights and court procedures while providing information about restorative justice options and relevant community support services.

Aboriginal courtworkers also promote awareness and appreciation of traditional Indigenous values, customs and languages as well as socio-economic conditions and factors related to truth and reconciliation for the courts.

To speak to an Aboriginal Courtworker in your area, please call 1-800-514-5666.

For Family Court Matters, Aboriginal courtworkers can:

• explain information about legal rights and responsibilities including the right to represent themselves;
• help families access legal counsel;
• connect families with services that can address concerns of child protection authorities;
• and improve communication between families, Crown Counsel, Legal Aid and Social Services.

For Criminal Court Charges Aboriginal courtworkers can:

• explain the reason for the charges to the accused;
• provide general information to help them understand legal rights and responsibilities;
• help the accused get legal counsel;
• act as a liaison between the accused and the police, defence lawyers, the court or the Crown Prosecutor;
• ensure the accused understands all court proceedings;
• make referrals to restorative justice program options;
• provide information to the court about community-based services to support sentences;
• translate court proceedings if the individual is not fluent in English; and
• appear with the accused in court.

Aboriginal courtworkers receive annual training and certification from the province to maintain an official designation to work within provincial courts.

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, certified courtworkers are authorized to serve as agents to appear with or on behalf of a defendant in court in relation to matters for which the defendant is liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment of a term of less than six months. They may appear with respect to the following:

• Setting dates for appearances and trial;
• Requesting adjournments;
• Entering pleas with written instruction on behalf of the defendant;
• Making submissions with respect to sentence.

There are 25 full and part-time Aboriginal courtworkers working for 10 agencies across Saskatchewan. These include tribal councils, friendship centres and other organizations contracted to provide the Aboriginal Courtwork Program.