Aklavik, N.W.T.'s justice co-ordinator keeps kids busy — and out of court

Jayneta Pascal says she had no idea what she had gotten herself into when she took over as the justice co-ordinator in Aklavik, N.W.T., three and a half years ago.

On paper, her job was "to do diversions and find options and assist people with doing their hours and make sure they are successful" — not exactly a clear description.  

But when it came to preventing youth from committing crimes, Pascal came up with a simple but effective solution: just keep the kids really busy. 

"It would keep their mind off going to break into someone's house, off of doing any criminal activity," she says.  

Pascal credits that approach — and the help of three actively involved RCMP members — for the fact that there's been no need to refer any Aklavik children to the local community justice committee in the past six months.

Under that system, RCMP members or Crown attorneys can divert minor criminal offences from the traditional court system by referring offenders to their local committee.

Offences eligible for diversion include theft, mischief, breaking and entering, alcohol and drug offences, vandalism and minor assaults.

Staffed by volunteers, the committees will, according to the N.W.T. Department of Justice, "set restorative measures that are appropriate and in the best interest of the victim, the community and the offender."

"It's kind of like the way they did things before criminal courts came into our communities," Pascal says.  

Pascal reached out to youth during a visit to Moose Kerr School, which teaches students from kindergarten to Grade 12.  

"I told them I was in this position because of them and asked, 'What do you want in this community?'" she says.    

The students responded with a list of things, and she scraped together funding. 

One big success has been the revival of an aboriginal game the Inuvialuit used to play hundreds of years ago, napaatchak.  It's similar to darts: participants throw a tiny wooden harpoon the size of a pen at a piece of styrofoam or a corkboard and try to get it to stand up straight.   

"Elders wanted to revive it and some members of the justice committee wanted to make it happen,"  Pascal says. "Students are now playing it at the school."

But Pascal doesn't believe activities alone are what's keeping youth out of the courtroom.  

She says the participation of the RCMP has been crucial.   

"We are so lucky to have three great guys in the community who are very, very active here. They go to all to the events and go to the schools.  They cruise around and hang out with the kids and go fishing."

Pascal says the community also has four very active female justice committee volunteers. 

"Without anyone asking they will just walk into the school check on the students, ask them how they are doing, making sure they are making healthy choices and encouraging them to do their best."   

Pascal is hopeful the committee can in the future deal with youth who have committed more serious offences.