The BC First Nations Justice Council has opened a new Indigenous diversion centre in Prince George, the first of its kind in the province.
The facility aims to reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system and help break cycles of incarceration and harm.
Located at 1475 10th Ave., next to the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction office, the new centre is funded in part by Public Safety Canada’s Northern and Indigenous Crime Prevention Fund.
The Indigenous Diversion Centre will offer a Post-Release Diversion Program designed to support individuals struggling to reintegrate into society. The program provides culturally grounded care, long-term support and a sense of belonging for those re-entering the community.
Miranda Seymour, diversion legal and policy advisor and a newly elected member of the Lheidli T’enneh Council, explained the meaning of “diversion” as it applies to the new facility.
“It’s looking to redirect individuals away from the traditional justice system,” Seymour said. “Often, that could look like being arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated. So it’s looking at community-based solutions.
“For us here in the Indigenous Diversion Centre, it will mean getting people involved in culture and ceremony. We have what we’re calling guided lessons.”
These guided lessons are informed by research on recidivism and tailored to support individuals reintegrating into the community. Seymour said a major focus of the program is long-term care coordination.
“Often, people come out of custody and might get snippets of help — someone helps them with a résumé, someone else with housing — but that might only last days or weeks. Then they’re on their own,” she said. “We want to serve people long-term.”
Modelled in part after post-incarceration care in cities such as Ottawa and Seattle, the Prince George centre was also developed with the unique needs of northern BC in mind.
“The North doesn’t get appreciated for its uniqueness,” said Seymour. “One of our priorities was grounding the Indigenous Diversion Centre in Lheidli T’enneh territory. We have a Lheidli T’enneh elder-in-residence, Marcel Gagnon, who is a well-known musician and has worked in the justice system for over 30 years. He’s incredibly culturally knowledgeable.”
Seymour herself is Lheidli T’enneh and a newly elected member of the First Nation’s Chief and Council. Local artist Jennifer Pagan, also from Lheidli T’enneh, is designing artwork for the centre.
The centre also features a framework of Indigenous staffing, in-house clinical counselling and culturally focused healing and rehabilitation.
“Our hope is to have seasonal camps — getting people out on the land, dip netting for salmon, walking a trapline, drumming on the land,” said Seymour. “It’s about connecting to culture, the land and ceremony — including sweat lodge ceremonies and spirit baths.”
The Diversion Centre will initially offer 12 services:
- Ceremony
- Long-term care coordination
- Clinical counselling
- Community partner workshops
- Sacred Bundle Journey
- Seasonal camps
- Land-based activities
- Atsoo’s (Grandmother’s) Kitchen
- Adulting 101
- Cultural activities
- Therapeutic art group
Seymour emphasized that the centre is designed to address systemic issues in northern BC, particularly at Prince George Regional Correctional Centre (PGRCC).
“There’s really a crisis here in the North — the over-incarceration of Indigenous people,” she said. “Statistics show that 63 per cent of inmates at PGRCC identify as Indigenous, and we’ve heard it can be even higher. The centre is also over capacity.”
“We’re really hoping the work we do here leads to lower numbers of Indigenous people at PGRCC. That means giving them tools and support so they don’t find themselves back in custody or in conflict with the law.”
Seymour said reconnecting individuals to culture, ensuring access to elders, and addressing issues like mental health, addiction, poverty and homelessness are key to breaking the cycle.
“They’re always welcome back here at the centre. And maybe someday, they’ll come back as a peer to help support others.”
The Post-Release Diversion Program is currently running, and the centre plans to launch a Pre-Charge Diversion Program in the fall of 2025.
The new program, in partnership with Prince George RCMP, will work with Indigenous individuals charged with eligible offences to divert them from incarceration. Instead, participants will follow a customized 90-day Diversion Plan. If completed successfully, the charges may be dropped and participants can continue working with a dedicated social worker.
