Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
October 28, 2025
Indigenous Communities Lead Justice Reform Through Section 84 Conference
TLDR
- Circle of Eagles Lodge Society's Section 84 conference provides Indigenous communities a legal advantage to lead reintegration, reducing recidivism and strengthening public safety outcomes.
- Section 84 of Canada's Corrections Act enables Indigenous federal prisoners to develop community-led release plans through cultural ceremonies and Elder guidance for structured reintegration.
- This Indigenous-led restorative justice approach heals individuals, families, and communities while addressing systemic overrepresentation and advancing reconciliation through cultural reconnection.
- The Kwanatul Gathering features Elder-led circles, cultural ceremonies, and lived experience sharing to demonstrate how Indigenous traditions transform justice and reintegration.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it addresses Canada's severe over-representation of Indigenous people in federal prisons through community-led solutions that actually work. Indigenous people constitute over 32% of federal prisoners despite being only 5% of the population, representing a systemic justice crisis. Section 84 offers a proven alternative to traditional corrections by reconnecting returning citizens with culture, ceremony, and community support - approaches that significantly reduce recidivism rates while healing families and neighborhoods. This represents a fundamental shift from punitive justice to restorative justice, aligning with Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations and creating safer communities for everyone. The success of these Indigenous-led models could transform Canada's entire justice system, offering more effective, humane, and cost-efficient approaches to public safety.
Summary
The Circle of Eagles Lodge Society (COELS), one of Canada's leading Indigenous authorities on Section 84 release planning, is hosting the Section 84 Kwanatul Conference in Vancouver from November 13-14, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. This national gathering brings together Elders, justice partners, people formerly in prison, and allies to showcase Restorative Justice in action through Section 84 - a legal pathway that empowers Indigenous communities to co-create culture-based release plans. Merv Thomas, CEO of Circle of Eagles Lodge Society, emphasizes that "Section 84 is not a program – it's a legal right that affirms Indigenous self-determination in the justice system." The conference represents a significant movement toward addressing the severe over-representation of Indigenous people in federal prisons, where they constitute over 32% of the prison population despite being only 5% of Canada's population.
Section 84 of Canada's Corrections and Conditional Release Act provides Indigenous people in federal custody the legal right to develop release plans with their communities and Indigenous organizations. This approach reconnects returning citizens with ceremony, culture, and community support, significantly reducing recidivism while strengthening public safety. The Kwanatul Gathering (meaning 'Together') will feature Elder & Resident-Led Circles sharing lived experiences, workshops on implementing Section 84 planning, policy sessions aligned with Canada's new Indigenous Justice Strategy, and cultural ceremonies honoring Coast Salish protocols. With registration available at section84.com, the event invites justice professionals, Indigenous organizations, and community members committed to reconciliation to shape a new future for Indigenous reintegration. Circle of Eagles has supported over 1,300 individuals through its culturally safe halfway houses and Elder-led programs during its 55 years of operation.
The conference directly fulfills the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 35, addressing systemic injustice through community-led solutions. Thomas notes that "when Indigenous communities lead the way home, healing happens - not just for the person returning, but for families, neighbourhoods, and the systems around them." The gathering will feature success stories from individuals like Johnny Mattice and Ruby Harry, who can share their experiences with Indigenous-led Section 84 planning, entrepreneurship, career paths, and family reconnection. Additional resources including a Fact Sheet with provincial statistics, high-resolution images, and a comprehensive media kit are available through the provided links, supporting broader understanding of this transformative approach to justice that prioritizes culture over corrections and community-led healing over punitive measures.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Indigenous Communities Lead Justice Reform Through Section 84 Conference
