Free Indigenous Legal Services & Justice Reform - Virtual and In Person Support

Indigenous Services and Legal

Provided by BC First Nations Justice Council

Offers free legal support to Indigenous people in BC, helping them navigate the justice system with respect and understanding.
Indigenous Justice Centres (IJCs) provide culturally appropriate information, advice, support, and representation directly to Indigenous people, focusing primarily on criminal law and child protection issues. These centres reflect a partnership between the BC First Nations Justice Council and local First Nations leadership.

There are currently 17 Indigenous Justice Centres (IJCs) across the province, along with one Virtual Indigenous Justice Centre. The Virtual Centre provides no-cost legal services to Indigenous clients in under-served areas where access to legal advice or representation is limited or unavailable. All Indigenous Peoples, regardless of legal aid eligibility, can receive free legal and outreach support for criminal or child protection matters.

To make a booking with a free lawyer, callers must meet the following criteria:
  • Self-identify as Indigenous
  • Have a case in the province of BC
  • Have access to a phone or be prepared to call in to speak with a lawyer at a preset agreed-upon time
If eligibility requirements are met, please call the VIJC toll-free at 1-866-786-0081. To contact via email, please send a message anytime to virtual@bcfnjc.com. Avoid including detailed information about your legal case in the email.

Note: There are ten specialized sentencing courts in BC for Indigenous people charged with criminal offences. These courts do not conduct trials. They are courts for people who identify as Indigenous, indicate an intention to plead guilty to a criminal offence and depending on the specific court, have Crown counsel's agreement to participate.

Location finder: https://bcfnjc.com/get-help

778-940-1520

Toll Free: 1-877-602-4858

Public email: info@bcfnjc.com

Website: https://bcfnjc.com

BC First Nations Justice Council, Head Office - #303, 1979 Old Okanagan Highway, Westbank, BC, V4T 3A4

1-866-786-0081 (Virtual Indigenous Justice Centre)

Public email: virtual@bcfnjc.com

Website: https://bcfnjc.com/services/virtual...

Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Cost: No cost

Availability

Service area: Province-wide + show cities

Service area cities: 100 Mile House, Abbotsford, Agassiz, Aldergrove, Alert Bay, Alexis Creek, Anahim Lake, Anmore, Armstrong, Ashcroft, Atlin, Bamfield, Banff, Barriere, Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Black Creek, Blue River, Boston Bar, Bowen Island, Brentwood Bay, Burnaby, Burns Lake, Cache Creek, Calgary, Campbell River, Canmore, Castlegar, Cathedral Grove, Cawston, Chase, Chemainus, Cherryville, Chetwynd, Chilliwack, Christina Lake, Clearwater, Clinton, Cobble Hill, Comox, Coombs, Coquitlam, Cortes Island, Courtenay, Cranbrook, Crawford Bay, Creston, Cumberland, Daajing Giids (Queen Charlotte City), Dawson Creek, Dease Lake, Deep Bay, Delta, Denman Island, Duncan, Edgewood, Elkford, Enderby, Fanny Bay, Fernie, Fort Langley, Fort Nelson, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, Fraser Lake, Fruitvale, Gabriola Island, Galiano Island, Gibsons, Gitlaxt'aamiks (New Aiyansh), Golden, Gold River, Grand Forks, Granisle, Greenwood, Hanceville, Harrison Mills, Hazelton, Hope, Hornby Island, Horne Lake, Houston, Hudson's Hope, Invermere, Kamloops, Kaslo, Kelowna, Keremeos, Kimberley, Kispiox, Kitimat, Kwadacha Nation (Fort Ware), Kyuquot, Ladner, Ladysmith, Lake Country, Lake Cowichan, Langford, Langley, Lantzville, Lethbridge, Lillooet, Lions Bay, Logan Lake, Long Beach, Lumby, Lytton, Mackenzie, Maple Ridge, Masset, Mayne Island, McBride, Merritt, Merville, Midway, Mill Bay, Mission, Nakusp, Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay, Nelson, New Denver, New Westminster, Nitinaht, North Delta, North Saanich, North Vancouver, Okanagan Falls, Okotoks, Oliver, Osoyoos, Oyama, Parksville, Peachland, Pemberton, Pender Harbour, Pender Island, Penelakut Island, Penticton, Pitt Meadows, Port Alberni, Port Alice, Port Coquitlam, Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Moody, Powell River, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Princeton, Quadra Island, Qualicum Beach, Quathiaski Cove, Quesnel, Revelstoke, Richmond, Riske Creek, Rock Creek, Rossland, Saanich, Saanichton, Salmo, Salmon Arm, Salt Spring Island, Sardis, Saturna Island, Sayward, Scotch Creek, Sechelt, Shawnigan Lake, Sicamous, Sidney, Skidegate, Slocan, Smithers, Sointula, Sooke, Sorrento, South Surrey, Sparwood, Spences Bridge, Squamish, Stewart, Summerland, Sun Peaks, Surrey, Tahsis, Tatla Lake, Telkwa, Terrace, Tofino, Trail, Tsawwassen, Tumbler Ridge, Ucluelet, Valemount, Vancouver, Vanderhoof, Vernon, Victoria, West Kelowna, West Vancouver, Whistler, White Rock, Williams Lake, Winlaw, Witset, and Yale

Service Types Provided
Indigenous Services
Legal
Ways to Access
  • Provided 1:1 in-person
  • Provided at multiple locations
  • Provided by phone
  • Provided online: email / video / on-line

The listing of this service in Pathways is not a recommendation or endorsement by Pathways.

Pathways does not provide medical advice. If you have an emergency please call 9-1-1. If you require assistance navigating services please call 8-1-1.

For general inquiries or for assistance, please email us:

community-services@pathwaysbc.ca

If you are requesting clinical access to medical Pathways, please provide the following information via the email above:

  1. First Name
  2. Last Name
  3. Email
  4. In which city/town do you work?
  5. What is your role? E.g. Family Physician, Office Staff, Medical Resident
  6. Employer Name (for office staff)
  7. Office Phone

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