Legal Resources

This page provides information on family law legal issues as they apply to Aboriginal people. Covers caring for children, parenting arrangements, child and spousal support, property, and income assistance.

Describes how wills and estates on reserve are different from those off reserve for status Indians who ordinarily lived on reserve at the time of their death.

Provides a list of resources and contacts for women and advocates. This manual is designed to enhance knowledge and strengthen skills of the women and men who are the first point of contact to comprehensively meet the needs of refugee and immigrant women.

Learn about funding and financing programs for reconstructing, renovating, or preserving housing for Indigenous communities, whether on reserve or off reserve.

Describes Parents Legal Centres (PLCs), a Legal Aid BC service that provides a free lawyer and an advocate to help parents address child protection issues early on. The service is available to eligible parents any time after the social worker contacts them.

A 12-page booklet about how the BC Human Rights Code applies in three main areas of daily life: work, housing, and access to services and facilities. It explains racial profiling, what it means to be discriminated by a landlord or a health care provider or harassed at work, and what you can do if your rights are violated.

This booklet is for service providers assisting “mothers without status” — women who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents. It gives an overview of the issues they face and options they can take. It includes information on where to get help.

This page contains links to what you need to know if you’re preparing to work in BC, including the rights of caregivers and farm workers coming to BC. It explains the steps you need to take to work in BC temporarily, and to extend your work permit. It also includes the steps caregivers can take if they have a problem at work.

Describes the role of mediators in the child protection process, how they can help Aboriginal families, and how to find a mediator. Mediators are professionals who are specially trained to help people reach an agreement. They are also trained to not take sides.

Provides information on how to legally change your name.