Lethbridge opens first Indigenous Court
By Lethbridge Herald on November 11, 2025.
Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
An Indigenous Court officially opened in Lethbridge on Monday the will incorporate traditional Indigenous ways in the court system, focusing on restorative justice for both victims and offenders.
This will be the fourth Indigenous Court in the province, with the first one opening in Calgary in 2019, followed by Edmonton and Saint Paul. Last year, Edmonton Indigenous court served more than 500 people.
According to a report by Statistics Canada, in 2020-2021, Indigenous people in Alberta were 10.8 percent more likely to be incarcerated than non-Indigenous people.
Derek Redman, chief judge of Alberta Court of Justice, says having Indigenous courts is an answer to many different reports from commissions and inquiries, most notably from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.
“Every member of our country has an obligation towards reconciliation, including judges and the justice system, so this is one step or court is taking, in hopes it will be a meaningful step towards reconciliation.”
The Indigenous Court will be located in Courtroom Seven, which has a bank of windows and has been renovated with the removal of benches to accommodate an oval table in which the judge, lawyers and offenders will all sit on the same level.
Marlene Orr, chief executive officer of Native Counselling Services, which oversees all Indigenous Courts across the province, says the courts will help individuals on a journey of healing so they won’t end up in the justice system again.
“It’s really looking at helping people understand historic trauma impacts on their own life, develop a plan for addressing those impacts that brought them into the courts and then walking with them on a wellness journey and the result is people that move from healing int wellness and do not come back into the courts again.”
An offender is able to make a request by themselves or through their lawyer to fill out an application for Indigenous Court, which is then reviewed by the Crown prosecutor’s office and Native Counselling Services who will make recommendations to the judge over the case, who will make the final decision.
Redman says this is to ensure only those who are willing to make lifestyle changes are accepted.
“You have to be committed to change (and) you have to be committed to trying to deal with all those underlying issues.”
Lethbridge MP Rachael Thomas says there is hope for other provinces to follow suit and Indigenous Courts opening up across the country.
“I’m interested to see how this will go here in Lethbridge and then I think there is opportunity for other provinces to learn what is going on here.”
Orr says she expects a large number of Indigenous people to go through Indigenous Court, never to return, thanks to the support from surrounding Nations, police and Indigenous organizations.
Following a pipe ceremony and grand opening, the Lethbridge Indigenous Court held its first two cases on Monday afternoon.
17-16
hoping this proves helpful. given that such courts have existed in calgary and edmonton, it would be good to learn how well this approach is playing out in general. if this approach is proving to have merits, it may be worthy to grow it out so that it benefits all people caught up in a poor cycle. certainly, it can be said the longstanding approach to what we call “justice” is an utter fail.
Should be sufficient evidence available to evaluate the success/failure rate. Would be good to have that for the Lethbridge effort. Does it work?? 🤷♂️
By way of background:
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cp-pm/eval/rep-rap/2023/eicp-epapa/p4.html
a compelling background to support instituting a better way.
hoping that indigenous courts are creating best outcomes.
Go through indigenous court, never to return?? Is there any guarantee? Three strikes and you’re out? How about one strike. Our courts in this country are a joke. Politicized judges working with bought crown prosecutors , hand in hand with police who cater to their bosses, those who rite their paycheck. Justice? Don’t count on it.