Upcoming Webinar: Overview of Indigenous Restorative Justice and Peacemaking

Upcoming Webinar

Overview of Indigenous Restorative Justice and Peacemaking

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

9am AKT/10am PT/11am MT/12pm CT/1pm ET

The Tribal Law and Policy Institute (TLPI), along with our training and technical assistance partners - the Tribal Judicial Institute (TJI), and National American Indian Court Judges Association (NAICJA) present an upcoming webinar: Overview of Indigenous Restorative Justice and Peacemaking, presented by Grace Carson.

“Restorative justice” is a popular term used today when discussing criminal legal reform and alternatives to incarceration and policing, but what is noDt talked about is how restorative justice is a form of justice that came from Indigenous peoples. Indeed, restorative justice is Indigenous justice. And it is not just a form of justice that was practiced by Indigenous peoples in the past, but Indigenous peoples and Tribes remain leaders in restorative justice systems and models today. That is because Tribes are best suited to execute the very models and practices that came from their communities. Indigenous models of restorative practice effect long term systematic change by focusing on strengthening relationships. Indigenous models of restorative justice are an approach to justice that attempts to restore harm at its roots. These approaches are most aligned with Indigenous cultures and values.

This webinar will discuss the history of restorative justice and restorative practices, as well as give examples of what this looks like in Tribal communities today. Specifically, the webinar will give a detailed overview of Peacemaking—a traditional way of resolving conflict. Peacemaking is a community-based process that addresses the concerns of all interested parties by focusing on community care and kinship to both repair and prevent conflict and harm. It is informed by a Tribe’s culture, spirituality, knowledge, and ways of being. This session will explore the philosophy, values, concepts, and framework of Indigenous restorative justice models and practices, differentiate them from those utilized in western system environments, and engage attendees in a discussion about how these models and practices are being implemented by Tribal courts.

Who Should Attend:  

FY 2023 Coordinated Tribal Assistance (CTAS) Purpose Area #3 Grantees and anyone interested in learning more about tribal courts, indigenous models of restorative justice and peacemaking. 

Presenter:

• Grace Carson, Skadden Fellow, Tribal Law and Policy Institute

Grace Carson serves as a Skadden Fellow at the Tribal Law and Policy Institute. Her Skadden Fellowship project is focused on developing a restorative justice program for tribal communities that channels harm-doers away from incarceration and fines, and towards rehabilitation, community involvement, and healing. This project builds on the foundation already established by Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts by incorporating Peacemaking—a tribal practice that repairs intercommunity harm that has been committed.

Carson graduated from the University of Denver with a BA in Political Science and  Journalism (2019), and graduated from UCLA School of Law with specializations in Critical Race Studies, Public Interest Law and Policy, and International and Comparative Law (2022). Her current research and scholarship is focused on ethnic studies, critical Indigenous studies, decolonization theory, and abolition theory.