The history of Mi’kmaw people is very long, and our homeland, Mi’kma’ki, extends across what is now Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, large parts of New Brunswick, Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, and parts of Maine. For Mi’kmaq, justice has never been about written rules alone, but about living in good relations. Our people have always learned our culture, history, and laws through oral traditions, stories, and legends, which guide how we live together in harmony.

Customary laws have long governed Mi’kmaw society, focusing on relationships, accountability, and the restoration of peace within the community. Justice for us is not about punishment but about restoring balance — reconciling the person who caused harm with their own conscience, with those they have wronged, and with the community as a whole. This is done through social controls, but more importantly, through processes of forgiveness, repair, and reintegration. These traditions remind us that each person has a responsibility to the whole community, and that wrongs must be repaired so healing can happen.

For Mi’kmaq, restorative justice is not new — it is a continuation of what has always been. Even without a formal justice department, Qalipu First Nation upholds these approaches through healing circles, support gatherings, accountability processes, and community-based solutions. Restorative justice reflects our understanding that peace, balance, and reconciliation come through collective responsibility and healing, not punishment.