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Summary

Breton, Denise (2004). Digging Deeper: Challenges for Restorative Justice. In Wanda D. McCaslin, ed., Justice as Healing: Indigenous Ways. Writings on Community Peacemaking and Restorative Justice from the Native Law Centre. St. Paul, MN: Living Justice Press. Pp. 409-434.

"The first reason for publishing this book is that the restorative justice movement traces its origins to Indigenous cultures worldwide, yet few books about restorative justice present Indigenous voices speaking directly about their traditional ways of responding to harms and creating harmony in their communities. Furthermore, based on the distinct experiences that Indigenous Peoples have had with the restorative justice movement and its practices, Indigenous voices offer both insights and critiques that are highly instructive and that deepen the global restorative justice dialogue. "The second reason for doing the book concerns the direction of the restorative justice field itself. Many people of color are challenging the restorative justice movement to expand its focus from dealing with the symptoms of communities in pain (individuals in trouble or incarcerated) to dealing with the deeper social causes, specifically colonization, racism, and their ongoing legacies of degradations and harms." (excerpt)

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