2015 Y Peace Medal Recipient

“It has been my dream since law school to establish spaces within the Canadian legal system where Aboriginal people can be involved in the administration of justice. The Cknúcwentn First Nations court is one of my dreams come true.”

-- Linda Thomas

The court is one of just four courts operating in the BC Provincial Court System and is the result of 5 years of lobbying of the provincial government by Linda. It takes a holistic and restorative approach, involving the community, the Elders, family members, victims, the police and the offender in creating a “healing plan” as a sentence.

“It is an amazing experience to see understanding, support and, above all, love to help people rather than the traditional punitive approach,” says Tina Lange, a Kamloops City Council Member who has observed the court in action. “Linda knew there had to be a better way to treat First Nations people in the judicial system and she made it happen.”