The Wet’suwet’en Unlocking Aboriginal Justice Program: Restorative Practices in British Columbia, Canada

Source: (2003) Restorative Practices E-Forum. October 21. International Institute of Restorative Practices. Downloaded 11 February 2004.

The Wet’ suwet’ en First Nation is an aboriginal people in northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Wet’ suwet’ en Unlocking Aboriginal Justice Program (WUAJ) is a community-driven restorative justice project initiated and operated by members of this people. The WUAJ was begun in 1992 in response to this people’s dissatisfaction with the Canadian judicial system and to the disproportionate number of aboriginal people involved in the federal and provincial court systems. In this article, Laura Mirsky presents an overview of the philosophy, mission, and operation of this program.