Justice Canada is providing more than $1.6 million dollars through its Indigenous Justice Program to support the Nunatsiavut government’s efforts to address the number of Inuit in the justice system.

The funding will go towards the creation of a new Inuit Cultural Awareness Educator to improve knowledge and understanding of criminal justice professionals about the root causes leading to criminal activity.

Funding is also being provided for the Nunatsiavut government’s Family Violence Prevention Program, Inuit-led engagement to inform the development of an Indigenous Justice Strategy, and community-based justice services.

The programs are aimed at addressing systemic factors that contribute to the over-representation of Indigenous people in the justice system and systemic racism in the justice system.