TORONTO, Monday, August 21, 2017 – This week in Thunder Bay, more than 25 Aboriginal youth from across the province will gather to develop ideas for technology solutions that aim to improve youth access to justice in their communities in a way that is reflective of Aboriginal experiences and responsive to Aboriginal traditions.

Funded by the Law Foundation of Ontario, and organized and designed by the Winkler Institute for Dispute Resolution at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School, this youth-driven and centred workshop will help accelerate the implementation of the recommendations found in Feathers of Hope – Justice & Juries: A First Nations Youth Action Plan for Justice. A Youth Leadership Team comprised of Aboriginal youth from Ontario will facilitate and direct the workshop.

This workshop aims to create a safe and supportive space for Aboriginal youth participants to take ownership over the exploration of technology as a means to address issues related to the justice system and police relations. It will culminate with a listening table comprised of a wide range of justice stakeholders and community members and leaders who will be presented with the ideas and prototypes by the youth that have been developed and designed in the days prior.

This project is planned in close collaboration with the Ontario Justice Education Network, Justice For Children and Youth, and the Feathers of Hope initiative (supported by the Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth).

Jean-Paul Bevilacqua, Project Coordinator, Winkler Institute, is available for comment on the workshop.

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The Winkler Institute is based at Osgoode Hall Law School, the Winkler Institute for Dispute Resolution is a vibrant center for research on innovation in dispute resolution, access to justice and the future of the legal profession. Our projects range from exploring to the potential for human centered design and legal technology to transform justice services, to innovation in ADR and dispute prevention, to new ways of thinking about the profession, legal education and empowerment. Since opening its doors in 2014, the Winkler Institute has become a leading voice in Canadian justice innovation and reform.

York University is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. York students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. York U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 26 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, York is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 295,000 alumni. York U's fully bilingual Glendon campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Contact:
Jean-Paul Bevilacqua, Project Coordinator, Winkler Institute, jbevilacqua@osgoode.yorku.ca