Flagship service
Child & Family Services Law Development
Move from administering programs to exercising jurisdiction.
Sacred Circle Justice Services works with First Nations to develop Nation-specific Child and Family Wellbeing Laws grounded in:
Inherent jurisdiction
Treaty relationships
Traditional laws and legal principles
Elders and Knowledge Keepers
Family and kinship systems
Customary care and customary adoption
Prevention and family preservation
Cultural continuity
Community accountability
The Nation’s own priorities and vision for its children
Beginning with the Nation
Our approach begins with the Nation, its families and its own legal traditions. Through engagement with Elders, leadership, parents, families, youth and community members, we assist Nations in identifying the principles, responsibilities, customs and protections that should form their law.
The goal is not simply to reproduce federal or provincial child welfare legislation. It is to develop a Nation-specific legal framework through which the First Nation can exercise its own jurisdiction over the wellbeing of its children and families.
Our work can extend from community engagement and law drafting through to regulations, policies, procedures, governance structures, implementation planning, funding proposals, forms, dispute-resolution processes and training.
From Jurisdiction to Implementation
The path a child and family law travels, from authority to operation.
01
Jurisdiction
02
Community Engagement
03
Law Development
04
Validation
05
Enactment
06
Implementation
Within this work
Nation-Led Community Engagement — the community helps shape the law from the beginning, rather than being consulted about a law that has already been written.
Ready to Bring Your Nation’s Law Forward?
We can prepare a customized proposal based upon your Nation’s priorities.