Despite important overlapping interests, until recently, few racial justice advocates have embraced restorative justice, and the restorative justice community has largely failed to explicitly address race. Suggesting a convergence of the two movements, this article presents an overview of restorative justice principles, history, and methods. We review the evidence for racial bias in criminal justice and school discipline and then note emerging restorative initiatives to ameliorate historical and contemporary racial inequities. We conclude by touching on gaps and challenges characterizing research and applied work in the field while suggesting strategies to move toward a racially-conscious restorative movement as both an effective alternative to state-imposed punishment and a powerful force for racial justice.

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I want to begin by acknowledging the Mik'maq, the ancestors of the land. In doing so we affirm this is a post-genocidal land upon which we stand. At the same time, we recognise that Canada acknowledges responsibility for this unspeakable harm and is taking first steps to address it through the historic settlement and Truth and Reconciliation process around Indian Residential Schools. I also honour the historic Africans of Nova Scotia and recognise the statesanctioned harms of institutional and structural racism they have endured, while also recognising that Nova Scotia is taking first steps toward repair through the settlement and Restorative Inquiry around the Nova Scotia home for coloured children.

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