The Circle of Eagles Lodge Society, a leading Indigenous authority on Section 84 release planning, will host the Section 84 Kwanatul Conference in Vancouver from November 13–14, 2025, bringing together elders, justice partners, and people formerly in prison to demonstrate restorative justice in action. The conference focuses on Section 84 of Canada's Corrections and Conditional Release Act, a legal right that empowers Indigenous communities to co-create culture-based release plans for individuals returning from federal custody.
This gathering addresses a critical justice disparity: Indigenous people represent only 5 percent of Canada's population yet constitute over 32 percent of those in federal prisons, with Indigenous women accounting for nearly 50 percent of incarcerated women. Section 84 reintegration directly confronts this overrepresentation by creating community-led, culturally grounded pathways home that reduce recidivism and strengthen public safety. The approach represents a direct fulfillment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 35.
Merv Thomas, CEO of Circle of Eagles Lodge Society, emphasized that Section 84 is not merely a program but a legal right affirming Indigenous self-determination in the justice system. When Indigenous communities lead the reintegration process, healing extends beyond the individual to families, neighborhoods, and surrounding systems. The organization has supported over 1,300 individuals through its lodges and outreach services, delivering more than 36,000 meals annually through programs like Bannock on the Run and Unhoused Outreach.
The Kwanatul Gathering, meaning 'Together,' will feature elder and resident-led circles sharing lived experiences of healing and accountability, workshops on implementing Section 84 planning, policy sessions advancing community-led models aligned with Canada's new Indigenous Justice Strategy, and cultural ceremonies honoring Coast Salish protocols. For more than 55 years, Circle of Eagles has operated on Coast Salish territory, providing culturally safe halfway houses and Elder-led healing programs. Additional conference details and resources are available at their media kit.
This conference matters because it showcases a proven public safety solution rooted in culture rather than corrections. By enabling Indigenous communities to lead reintegration through legal rights like Section 84, Canada can address systemic injustices while building safer communities through restored relationships and cultural reconnection.
