Pro Bono Students Canada Indigenous Human Rights Clinic

ELIGIBILITY FOR LEGAL SERVICES
You may come to the Clinic if you:
1. Self-identify as Indigenous, and
2. Live in Thunder Bay, and
3. Believe you have been discriminated against and seek summary (basic) legal advice, OR
4. Want to learn more about discrimination and/or human rights from a lawyer.

 

LEGAL SERVICES

SUMMARY LEGAL ADVICE
Summary advice is one-time, basic legal advice. Our lawyers give advice about human rights under an Ontario law called the Human Rights Code and a federal law called the Canadian Human Rights Act.
Examples of when we can give advice (note that these are not the only situations in which we can give advice):
● You have faced complaints from others for smudging in your rental apartment;
● You have been followed in a store, and you think it is because you are Indigenous;
● You have been denied a service and it feels wrong, but you’re not sure if it’s discrimination;
● You have a disability and need accommodations at work;

LEGAL INFORMATION
We meet one-on-one with anyone that meets our eligibility criteria who wants to learn about human rights and discrimination. These meetings are informal and conversational.

Information may include:
● The human rights systems in Ontario and Canada;
● What discrimination and harassment mean under Ontario or federal law, including examples;
● The process for filing a human rights complaint and going through the colonial legal process; and
● Examples of human rights cases brought by Indigenous people.

REFERRALS AND NEXT STEPS
Summary legal advice is basic legal advice, and the lawyers at the Clinic are volunteers. Because the Clinic cannot represent individuals on an ongoing basis, we try to make referrals for our Clients based on their needs. We often refer to the Human Rights Legal Support Centre (HRLSC)’s Indigenous Service and Outreach Committee. The HRLSC provides legal assistance to individuals when they take an application to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

INDIGENOUS HUMAN RIGHTS PODCAST
Check out our podcast where we shine a light on the real experiences of Indigenous people who have fought for their human rights at Tribunals across Canada. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5gY06Yg50xYPX6ZZ0mB1JW

CONTACT THE CLINIC
Email: intake.thunderbay@indigenoushumanrights.ca
Phone: 807-698-9571