New Nunavik justice centre hopes to fill legal gaps
“There are really big needs in the region”
Stephanie Gauvreau is the director of the new Nunavik Community Justice Centre in Inukjuak. (Photo courtesy of S. Gauvreau)
At a time when Nunavik-based legal services seem few and far between, there is a new place Nunavimmiut can go to for help.
The Nunavik Community Justice Centre officially opened its doors in Inukjuak earlier this winter, with a mandate to offer legal information, support and referral services to the region.
Over the past couple of weeks, Nunavimmiut have come in with questions about child alimony, accessing legal aid, divorce and registering a death—all services that aren’t typically offered in Nunavik communities.
“There are really big needs in the region, so we’re here trying to answer those,” said Stephanie Gauvreau, the centre’s director.
“There are so many more services elsewhere in Quebec. So we need to adapt and work to help people here.”
Gauvreau, a lawyer who used to work in legal aid in the region, said she considers her main goal to give people impartial information on their legal rights.
She does that now from the centre’s new office in the Alakkariallak building in Inukjuak, although the service is available to all Nunavik residents.
A view inside Inukjuak’s new community justice centre. (Photo courtesy of S. Gauvreau)
The centre is currently looking to hire an access-to-justice officer who would staff the office full-time.
Once the new position is filled, Gauvreau hopes they can tour the region together to promote the centre’s profile.
“We’re still at the very beginning,” she said. “We’re hoping it will grow and we’ll have a bigger team.”
The new centre is administered by Makivik Corp. and paid by through the Quebec government’s Access to Justice fund.
At the same time, Makivik has also launched a pilot project to offer the services of a notary to the region. Notary Eve Langlois was working from the new justice centre in Inukjuak last month.
“Makivik continues its work to promote justice by and for Inuit,” said Makivik president Charlie Watt at the centre’s launch earlier this year.
“We hope that the information and support services provided by the centre in the area of notarial law, along with the travelling legal clinics, will improve access to justice for the Nunavik population.”
The launch of the new centre comes as the Nunavik-based Crown prosecutor has moved out of the region. More recently, Nunavik’s only permanently staffed legal aid office, in Kuujjuaq, has temporarily closed until a new lawyer is hired.
Gauvreau said Nunavimmiut have felt that loss.
“With the new centre opening, people told me ‘Finally, someone is listening to us,’” she said.
Nunavimmiut can reach the new justice centre through its Facebook page or by emailing ncjc@makivik.org.
Do we have to check the date of today for this article too?
When are we going to receive a proper Lawyers that just not agree with Crown Prosecutors? They do not even defend their clients, and just goes with the flow.
Us Inuit as tax payers, are the ones paying their money to survive, they their food on the table, thanks to us! we are highest living high cost living, even sometimes cannot put enough food on table, because of our high bills, high rent, very minimum meals for our family! We are laughed at!
Also, in Jails, the tax payers are kept in jail, not receiving good services, while the guards are enjoying our money, they get paid too from tax payments, and so much racism is happening inside jails too from non-Inuit inmates
typos correction to my posting;
*we are the ones paying their money to survive, they placed their food on the table, thanks to us, as tax payers, we are being fooled and played!
my additional comments; Supreme Court of Canada should investigate how Inuit are treated by Quebec Justice system, even their Guards! I hope they are happily eating their meals and proper clothing from our tax money!
Yes, a lot of cases are decided before – but its easier to settle in court then to try to engage in a jury decision. The client always has a right to ask for a jury, or to defend him/herself, but they do not understand the legal system and how it works. That is why this new legal center will be so helpful to all of Nunavik. People will start to understand how the legal system works, and will be better informed before they go into court.
We no longer trust the system, it is not right at all when a Lawyer is suppose to defend his/her clients, agreeing with crown prosecutor is not supposed to happened, following JBNQA Rights, Human Rights and Amnesty Rights. They are not suppose to agree each others, they keep postponing until the file is very old, then finally sentencing their clients, keep paying their delaying fees $500.00/court days, and they, even pay request from their spouse’s money, when a spouse did not even commit a crime!
It stinks Quebec Court! they do not respect tax payers, and they are happily eating food, buying their clothing, colouring their hair looking like a punk instead of properly dressed, we want to be respected too! we pay for their f’n work! through paying taxes
someone sounds like they were found guilty
northernstuff, you are not even right!
I was never ever charged in my life! I am helping friends that are being wrongfully treated, from Quebec Court system! though, I’ve been in court just following a suspect, witnesses, and victims are treated.
Supreme Court of Canada should visit how they treat Inuit! no human/amnesty/charters of rights & freedom right there!