Decade of good work celebrated

Page 6

The Edmonton Native Youth Justice Committee (ENYJC) celebrated its tenth anniversary by paying tribute to all the volunteers that put their time and effort into the organization over the last decade. A dinner was held in their honor on May 8.

The ENYJC started working in the field in February 1994, but was formally established in March 1997. Since then ENYJC has been involved with about 30 cases a year and has helped many young offenders get back on the right track. The organization works with the justice system to help find alternatives to incarceration for young offenders.

"This feels really good because I know that the committee has made a difference. It's made a difference in young peoples lives," said Joan Collins, ENYJC co-ordinator. "It's hard to believe that it's gone 10 years. The 10 years has actually gone quickly. For the first two years I thought I was on roller skates. I lived on roller skates."

Donald Langford, president of ENYJC, praised the work done by all the volunteers in helping to aid troubled youth.

"I think we have to give back something to our community. If we don't give a lot of support to our youth, what is going to happen 10, 15 years down the road is we're going to have a lot of angry young people out there. We just have good community role models that are willing to work with our youth without getting anything back other than just some self-satisfaction."

One of the primary ways ENYJC works with young offenders is by holding sentencing circles.

"The Aboriginal people are over-represented in the criminal justice system. Our committee is trying to make a difference and we believe it starts with the youth," said Collins. "We believe jail is not the answer."

One former member who was honored was Judge Tony Mandamin. Mandamin was an Edmonton lawyer at the time he helped organize ENYJC. He's now a judge in the Calgary courts.

"In those days they thought (sentencing circles) worked fine in small communities. They didn't really think it would work in a city setting. The fact that this committee has continued for 10 years certainly proves that it does. I'm very pleased and proud, particularly for the effort Native communities put into it. They keep it going and helping the youth."

Lanford said Judge Mandamin is an example for the community "and certainly a role model for our youth. It shows the extent of their ambitions if they want to dream that they can go on to be a judge."

Ever since ENYJC did its first sentencing circle on March 3, 1994, Collins said the organization has been gaining more and more respect from various people and organizations.

"So often we here that the Aboriginal people are not treated fairly and equally in the system. Well, this is a chance to do something different and to get that respect," said Collins. "The judicial system is accepting recommendations from our committee. The committee has the respect of the judiciary. I feel really good about this."