The Indigenous Justice Centre of Alberta is a legal clinic that provides free legal information and representation for Indigenous People involved in the Criminal Justice System with Criminal Code offences. Especially those who may not be able to qualify for legal aid or pay for private legal services.
Our Services
Indigenous rights
Legal consultation
We provide consultation and representation for bail hearings, guilty pleas and trials.
Advancing cultural spaces
We offer legal representation from primarily Indigenous lawyers and law students.
Our Story
The Indigenous Justice Centre’s logo came through deep contemplation. Looking out my office window at the Indigenous Justice Centre, I could see the Harley Hotchkiss Park in front of the Calgary Courthouse.
A part of the courtyard is cut into four quadrants by a sidewalk that runs east to west and south to north. From my eighth-floor view and the lens of Indigenous perspectives that I see the world through, it reminds me of the quadrants of a medicine wheel.
On June 17, 2024, the Indigenous Justice Centre of Alberta (IJC) had our opening ceremony at the Harley Hotchkiss Park. We had a teepee erected in the western quadrant; this placement puts the teepee in front of the Calgary Courthouse. This provided a visual acknowledgement of
two (often opposing) worldviews.
The IJC seeks to move towards restorative justice by grounding our work in a “for Indigenous-by-Indigenous approach” and restoring traditional teachings such as the medicine wheel. The entire image is surrounded by a braid of sweetgrass, illustrating that in all things we do our traditional medicines bring us much needed cultural connections to all our relations.
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The Indigenous Justice Centre of Alberta supports and collaborates with the Calgary Indigenous Court (located in the Calgary Courthouse) to provide consistent and relevant legal services related to the needs of Indigenous People, especially when it comes to improving access to legal representation. People with matters in the Indigenous court will have a stronger and more structured approach that aligns more consistently with the intent and spirit of the Indigenous court by taking a restorative approach to justice.
Contact Us
We are here to help.
Contact us by email, phone or using the contact form.
587-943-7747
info@ijcalberta.ca
Office Hours
Monday to Friday
9:00am-4:00pm