Indigenous Restorative Practices & Approaches

This course will introduce indigenous restorative practices and approaches, with a focus on cultural traditions in British Columbia. Learners will become familiar with the history of practice in justice and public safety that has resulted in an over-investigation and overrepresentation of Aboriginal peoples in many of the justice and public safety fields. Students will learn to apply indigenous practices and approaches to justice and public safety to support the calls to action made by the Truth and Reconciliation commission (TRC) in the area of justice. Students will learn how to analyse and respond to common situations that they will face when working with Aboriginal peoples and communities in justice or public safety. Role play and practical scenarios depicting common situations are used to teach students to recognize triggers and inter-generational trauma, apply resolution techniques and listening skills, and examine the impact of worldview and personal beliefs.