'Will the Circle be Unbroken?'

"Healing on Both Sides": Strengthening the Effectiveness of Prison–Indigenous Community Partnerships Through Reciprocity and Investment

“…Wright & Cesar, 2013). This approach also aligns with many pre-colonial Indigenous concepts of justice (Dickson-Gilmore & LaPrairie, 2005;Napoleon & Friedland, 2015). For example, studies have highlighted that positive relationships and community engagement can increase parole adherence and reduce substance use (Pettus-Davis et al, 2017;Skeem et al, 2009); relationships with friends, families, and community can improve mental, behavioural and physical health outcomes post-release (Binswanger et al, 2012;Skeem et al, 2009); and sustained positive social support both within and outside prison walls can reduce recidivism (Pettus-Davis et al, 2017;Rocque et al, 2013;Wright & Cesar, 2013).…”

“…While restorative justice processes focus on greater engagement between people in prison and communities, in both victim-offender and wider societal contexts, there is a clear need for programming and research that specifically can facilitate reciprocal engagement and altruism between inmates and communities (London, 2011), particularly in Indigenous contexts where relationships are foundational to culturally safe healing and wellness (Dickson-Gilmore & LaPrairie, 2005;Hewitt, 2016). In our study, we found that both men and community members were interested in direct connection, and increased reciprocity would enhance the benefits of indirect knowledge sharing.…”

The Ethics of Reconciling: Learning from Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission

“…22 We need to hear different perspectives and truths that are difficult to hear, especially those for whom these truths are new. 23 Oversimplification and assumptions about racialized identity have perpetuated, if not instigated, the past violence now at issue with the TRC, and will no doubt continue to do so if we cannot think differently about how we frame things. To use Minow's approach, we will be perpetuating cycles of violence, rather than breaking them.…”

“…Communities come in various forms, have various ways of dealing with conflict, have different power dynamics within them, and change over time. 55 Additionally, Chris Andersen, and Jane Dickson-Gilmore and Carol La Prairie alert us against "naturally" connecting the ideas of community and "traditional" notions of indigeneity and culture. 56 The general impression that one gets from the TRC is that community events are for Indigenous people and the national events are meant to be the main "event" tool with which to educate Canadians.…”