Balancing the Scales: Understanding Aboriginal Perspectives on Civil Justice

As we visited each of the Civil Justice System and the Public research locations in Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario Quebec, Nunavut and British Columbia we contacted local Aboriginal organizations. We talked with Band Councils, Native Friendship Centres, Aboriginal legal aid programs, Native court workers, Aboriginal child welfare agencies and individuals involved in court cases. About 30 Aboriginal people took part in our key contact meetings and interviews that were transcribed and analysed to provide the first draft of this report. Some were members of a First Nation, some were Métis and others were Inuit. They lived on and off Reserves, in large urban centres and small rural towns. Some people spoke with us on behalf of their organizations, others took part as independent individuals