Program focuses on Indigenous justice

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Students enrolled in a new interdisciplinary program offered at the University of Saskatchewan are getting a chance to explore Indigenous ways of knowing as they relate to the criminal justice system.

Offered through the sociology, political studies and law faculties, the Indigenous Peoples and Justice Program (IPJP) allows students to specialize in Aboriginal justice issues while working towards a degree within their respective field of study.

Students in the law faculty may earn a second degree in sociology with a special focus on Indigenous peoples and justice. The Aboriginal Public Administration Program, which is a part of IPJP and offered by the political studies department, looks at policy, governance and management issues within Aboriginal communities. All IPJP courses are taught by Aboriginal professors with an average enrollment of 15 to 20 students per semester.

Joseph Anderson, the IPJP administrative co-ordinator, said IPJP offers an excellent training ground for people interested in careers in the government and voluntary sectors.

"For instance, the Aboriginal Public Administration Program offers training in careers in the government sector and voluntary sector. Sociology is a wide area too ... in correctional services or in social development areas."

Since 2000, the university has made Aboriginal education in the area of justice one of its main priorities. The creation of IPJP came as a result of reports like the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, which indicated the rate of incarceration among the Aboriginal population is about 8.5 times higher compared to non-Aboriginal people across the country.

"Leading to 2000, there had been a great concern ... for the dilemma in justice involving Aboriginal people ... so (the program) is quite unique and a strong combination at the university with law, political studies and sociology to address these issues from wide angles and narrowing it down to training students how, for instance, to research what Indigenous knowledge means for the Aboriginal communities," said Joseph Anderson.

"The initial feedback from students is quite positive in terms of increasing their perspectives of what justice particularly means, and they have great opportunities to be part of these classrooms where Elders are brought into those settings and explore these issues," said Anderson.

For more information about the Indigenous Peoples and Justice Program, visit the IPJP Web site at www.usask.ca/ipji