Law360 Canada (August 14, 2026, 4:53 PM EDT) -- Manitoba has signed an agreement with a Cree First Nation to establish a community court focusing on Cree legal traditions, restorative justice and “culturally grounded approaches” to justice.

According to an Aug. 13 news release, the province has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) government to establish the court, which will incorporate Indigenous principles around “holistic” justice, land-based healing, elder guidance and community involvement.

It notes the court will be an “essential addition” to OCN’s Kenanow Onusawawin Ekweskeet Community Court Centre — a restorative justice model focusing on “culturally appropriate crime prevention,” healing and reintegration into the community.

The OCN is located more than 620 kilometres north of Winnipeg, near the town of The Pas. According to the government of Canada, there were 3,492 people living “On Own Reserve”, and 3,786 living “Off Reserve” as of last month.

“For decades, we have been policing our own community, and as we have grown, we have adapted to the provincial and federal government’s methods of justice. Today, we are taking control back,” said OCN Chief Michael Constant in a statement. “This process will allow us to help our community members heal and gives us control of our destiny. This shows our premier and our cabinet are committed to supporting our community and communities across Manitoba.”

Justice Minister Matt Wiebe called the court “a pivotal marker on the path to reconciliation” — and a natural expansion of the province's justice system.

“Our government deeply values our ongoing partnership with the leadership and elders of OCN, and we will continue to advance a community-driven justice model that meets the needs of all Manitobans in the region,” said Wiebe.

The chief judge of Manitoba’s provincial court also stands behind the initiative, states the release. 

“Following extensive engagement with the community, the chief judge of the Manitoba Provincial Court endorsed establishing the community court in OCN,” it states. “The Manitoba government continues to work with OCN and the provincial court to develop a court process that serves community members in a culturally appropriate way.”

A provincial spokesperson confirmed the court will be located on the OCN reservation, and that it will primarily handle criminal matters. They said it is yet to be determined whether the court will serve only the Cree living on the reservation, or be open to those living off reservation as well. They also said that "while the aim will be to incorporate Indigenous practices and traditions into the court proceedings," the court will be presided over by a provincial court judge. 

The release notes that the creation of the community court is related to the province’s Safer Neighbourhoods, Safer Downtowns public safety strategy — a sprawling, tough-on-crime plan unveiled in late 2024.

The safety strategy has several aims, including the hiring of mental health workers to work alongside first responders, expanding the province’s electronic monitoring system and strengthening the enforcement of protection orders in the province’s rural areas.

Manitoba has one of the largest populations of Indigenous residents in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, Indigenous people made up 18.1 per cent of the province’s population in 2021 — the largest proportion of all the country’s provinces. (Not including the territories, which have the highest numbers in the country.)

Indigenous people remain overrepresented in the justice system, both in Manitoba and throughout Canada.

If you have any information, story ideas or news tips for Law360 Canada, please contact Terry Davidson at t.davidson@lexisnexis.ca or 905-415-5899.