Image: Flickr / B.C. Legislature.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

New Indigenous court in Chilliwack

New Indigenous court opens in Chilliwack

Dec 17, 2025 | 11:48 AM

CHILLIWACK — The B.C. Attorney General’s office says the province’s 10th Indigenous sentencing court opened last Thursday, Dec. 11 in Chilliwack.

In a statement, the AG’s office says the opening of the Indigenous court is designed to offer “alternative sentencing” options that honour traditional cultural practices, support rehabilitation activities and acknowledge the impact the person’s actions have had on others.

The province also says it’s intended to facilitate better outcomes for people who break the law and help reduce what it calls the “over-representation” of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system.

“Indigenous sentencing courts give Indigenous Peoples going through the criminal justice system a chance to heal and move forward in a way that respects their culture and community,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. “I would like to thank our Indigenous and Provincial court partners for coming together to work with us to address the harm caused by colonial systems and create space for accountability and hope. We will continue to work to build a justice system that better respects and addresses the needs of Indigenous Peoples.”

The Chilliwack court was developed in partnership with the Qwí:qwelstóm Justice Program, the Provincial Court, and local First Nations, Elders and leaders, as part of government’s ongoing commitment to address the over-representation of Indigenous Peoples in the justice system. Each Indigenous court takes a holistic and restorative-justice approach to sentencing and is uniquely designed to meet the needs of the community it serves.

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The province says the Chilliwack Indigenous court will operate as a pilot until March 2027. Future decisions will be informed by discussions with Indigenous communities and justice partners and will take into account available funding and resources.

Indigenous courts focus on understanding the root causes of offending behaviours. Participants collaborate with a team that includes Elders, a judge, legal counsel and Native court workers to develop an individualized healing plan tailored to their needs and the community.

There are currently nine other Indigenous courts operating in B.C.:

• New Westminster First Nations court
• North Vancouver Chet wa nexwníw̓ ta S7eḵw’í7tel Indigenous court
• Kamloops Cknu’cwentn First Nations sentencing court
• Duncan First Nations court
• Nicola Valley Indigenous court
• Prince George Indigenous court
• Williams Lake Indigenous court
• Hazelton Indigenous court
• Lillooet Indigenous court