From the Ministry of Attorney General
The B.C. government and Cowichan Tribes have co-developed new Provincial Court Rules for matters brought to it under an Indigenous law.
On August 1st B.C. will bring into force new Provincial Court (Snuw’uy’ulhtst tu Quw’utsun Mustimuhw u’ tu Shhw’a’luqwa’a’ i’ Smun’eem [Laws of the Cowichan People for Families and Children]) Rules. These Rules set out the procedures for the Provincial Court where a matter involving a Cowichan child (smun’eem) is brought before the Court under Cowichan Tribes’ law, Snuw’uy’ulhtst tu Quw’utsun Mustimuhw u’ tu Shhw’a’luqwa’a’ i’ Smun’eem [Laws of the Cowichan People for Families and Children]. The initial court registry for these matters is the Duncan registry.
On June 24th Cowichan Tribes, B.C. and Canada signed a Coordination Agreement to see it assume full responsibility over child and family services for its citizens.
The Rules reflect Cowichan Tribes’ exercise of their rights of self-determination and self-government, their inherent right and statutory right under former Bill C-92, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families to exercise jurisdiction for their children, and establish processes that support the effective exercise of Indigenous jurisdiction over child and family services. On August 1st all the provisions of the Laws of the Cowichan People for Families and Children will be brought into force.