Fort Smith (Mar 24/03) - Cec Heron is a champion of community justice and believes it has many benefits compared to regular courts.

"It gives more opportunities for people to take responsibility for their actions," says Heron, who's been involved with the Fort Smith Adult Justice Committee for the past six years.

Cec Heron is chair of the Fort Smith Adult Justice Committee. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"I got involved shortly after it formed," says the committee chair.

Community justice seeks a deeper understanding of people's actions not available to the more structured court system, Heron adds.

For example, an assault could result from family or personal disputes, which might not be admissible as evidence in court.

Plus, she says more people can become involved in seeking solutions to criminal behaviour, including friends and relatives. "Everybody has a say in it."

The Fort Smith committee deals with 10 to 15 cases a year. Under the system, the offender pleads guilty, but receives no criminal record. Most of the cases involve assault and theft under $5,000. The committee does not deal with more serious offences, such as sexual assault.

The committee can, among other things, arrange counselling, order restitution and set up face-to-face meetings between offenders and victims.

Heron says community justice is important. "I personally believe it helps at the level of rebuilding communities in a much more positive say."

She also notes it has a good success rate in keeping people from re-offending.

In addition to her volunteer activities, Heron, 47, works as a seasonal employee with the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development's fire management program.

She is also a member of HOPE, a Fort Smith group focused on educating the community about fetal alcohol syndrome.

And last fall, she became involved with the NWT Native Women's Association as the board member for the South Slave.

Heron, a Metis born and raised in Fort Smith, thinks women have to take a stronger role in leadership.

In fact, she says, many aboriginal women are currently doing a lot of work in their communities. "I don't think we recognize that enough."

Heron began training for leadership when she was 17 in a program call Canada World Youth.

As part of that year-long leadership and exchange program, she worked in several parts of Canada and spent four months in Fiji. There, she worked in an orphanage and on literacy programs in small villages.

She now encourages young people to apply for such exchange programs.

"The experiences you have are amazing."