Our perspective on restorative justice is viewing “justice” (knowing this is a western word) through a lens of Indigenous concepts of healing. While there are many ways to view how this healing takes place, it is within the circle that CKC is most familiar.  Through collective circles and trauma-informed approaches, those harmed and those who have created harm come together with other guiding forces (Elders, community workers, agency representatives, family members, etc.) to find ways to work through the violence, harm, or conflict into a place of healing. 

The objective of this circle approach is to identify and discuss the harm that has taken place, to explore what healing looks like, and to determine a plan of action for this healing to take place. It takes accountability on all within the circle, rejecting western approaches of criminalizing, isolating, or incarcerating those who have brought harm to others. Instead finding alternatives to the ways responsibility and reparation are realized.  

Restorative justice becomes an alternative to western justice systems. As such it provides opportunities to resolve conflict, create healthy relationships, and learn healthy ways to deal with conflict. How we restore balance to community when hurts have taken place is a focus point. An “offender” is an equally valued member of community as is the “victim”. The idea of restorative justice shifts the language of justice to a more community and holistic healing framework. Stepping away from the western ideas of incarceration, of what’s viewed as westernized crimes, and bringing it into, Indigenous concepts of ethics and laws within community, including the land. 

Using Indigenous approaches such as healing circles, ceremony, and land-based practices there can be equal engagement of those harmed, those who have harmed, the families impacted, important Indigenous representatives such as Elders and knowledge keepers, along with western entities like RCMP, government agency staff, court representatives, etc. In a typical justice system, the family can read the victim impact system, but it is a judicial process. Whereas in restorative justice the collective community “circle” hears the story, holding it in a way to find healing, and takes part in the process forward. 

As a land protector with an Indigenous lived experience perspective, the word “justice” becomes problematic from a western point of view. Rule of law comes from a colonized framework and many times works against Indigenous laws, values, and ways of being.  Restorative justice becomes one way in how we work within communities to heal fractures caused by colonial systems, for those who have been hurt and those who do the hurting. This in turn includes harm done to land, water, culture, and the next generations. Colonization is trauma. To have “justice” through an Indigenous lens we need to be trauma-informed and understand that everyone involved has their own experiences of the trauma that impacts them.