| At a Glance | Aboriginal Legal Services (formerly Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto) was established on February 21, 1990. ALS was formed following a need for a legal related program for Aboriginal people living in the Greater Toronto Area.Our mission is to strengthen the capacity of the Aboriginal community and its citizens to deal with justice issues and provide Aboriginal controlled and culturally based justice alternatives.ALS’s initiatives in criminal law include establishing the first urban Aboriginal alterative justice program in Canada – the Community Council – in 1992 and helping with the creation of the first Gladue (Aboriginal Persons) Court in Ontario in 2001. ALS also wrote the first Gladue Reports in Canada, and we continue to be leaders in this important work.We seek a community which deals with justice issues in an assertive, constructive and respectful way.A community which provides support and guidance to its citizens when they need to interact with the justice system.A community involved in developing and implementing justice initiatives and alternatives which are culturally based and community controlled.A community where our youth have the opportunities and abilities to deal with justice issues affecting them.A community where its citizens have minimum exposure to the existing legal system and are less vulnerable to acts of aggression, racism, and ignorance of who we are.A community which resolves its conflicts internally with minimal need for outside involvement.A community which promotes a positive environment related to justice issues – an environment based on mutual understandings with non-aboriginal groups/services such as schools, police, and other enforcement agencies.A community where its agencies work together to ensure justice and related services and issues are provided in a holistic and integrated way.A community where its citizens have the confidence and self-esteem to deal with issues in a constructive way. |
