Legal Assistance - For Aboriginal Peoples

• Aboriginal Courtwork Program
  The Aboriginal Courtwork Program is an ongoing justice program that seeks to ensure that Aboriginal people charged with a criminal offence receive fair, equitable, and culturally sensitive treatment by the criminal justice system. All Aboriginal people in conflict with the law are eligible for Courtwork services regardless of their status, age or residency.
• Common Experience Payment (CEP)
  The Common Experience Payment (CEP) is a component of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. The CEP recognizes the experience of residing at an Indian Residential School and its impacts. Eligible applicants may receive $10,000 for the first school year (or partial school year) of residence at one or more residential schools, plus an additional $3,000 for each subsequent school year (or partial school year) of residence at one or more residential schools. Eligible recipients will receive a one-time payment of their full CEP entitlement.
• Decedent Estates Program
  The Decedent Estates Program provides for the administration of the estates of deceased First Nation individuals who were ordinarily residents on a reserve before their death.
• Living Estates Program
  The Living Estates Program's goal is to empower First Nation members to administer the living estates of Indian minors and mentally incompetent Indians who are ordinarily residents on a reserve.

Other programs and services:

• Bankruptcy Assistance Program
  The Bankruptcy Assistance Program helps individuals seeking to file for bankruptcy hire a bankruptcy trustee if they do not have the means to do so on their own.
• Canadian Intellectual Property Office
  The Canadian Intellectual Property Office administers and processes the greater part of intellectual property in Canada. Areas of activity include patents, trade-marks, copyrights, industrial designs, and integrated circuit topographies.
• Pardons
  The Pardons program grants, denies or revokes pardons for past convictions under federal statutes.
• Victim Information Services
  The Victim Information Services ensure that direct or indirect victims of crime have access to information on the offender's parole reviews and other relevant information for the duration of the offender's sentence.
• Victim Services Program
  The Victim Services Program registers victims of federal offenders, provides notification information to victims, manages information provided by victims, assists victims with the preparation of their input into the decision-making process, identifies other available resources and assists victims with the completion of various forms.
• Victims Fund
  The Victims Fund aims to improve the experience of victims of crime in the criminal justice system and provides them with direct, limited, emergency financial assistance.
• Victim Statement
  The Victim Statement program enables victims of crime to present a brief live or recorded statement at an offender's parole hearing to help Parole Board of Canada members evaluate the risks that the offender poses to the victims and the community.

See all Legal Assistance programs and services.