Healing the harm: student supports restorative justice approach

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Dominique Bradford first studied to become a legal assistant but learned that providing real assistance to Indigenous people involved in the justice system would require a different type of education.

That’s how Bradford, a resident of Red Deer, Alberta and member of Paul First Nation, came to earn  a Bachelor of Arts and Justice Studies at Royal Roads University. Now, as part of her work toward her Master of Arts in Justice Studies at RRU, she’s doing a work-integrated learning in her home province that allows her to put her learning to use for other Indigenous people.

With funding from the RBC Community Integrated Learning Grant, Bradford is assisting the coordinator of the Indigenous Diversion Program, which is run by  the Urban Aboriginal Voices Society in partnership with Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre coordinator. The program diverts Indigenous offenders from the criminal justice system using a culturally appropriate restorative justice approach.

The goal, she explains, is “to place emphasis on healing, and healing from the harm that was done. We get supports in place for those who take responsibility for the harm, to get to the root causes of why, and support them that way. Because there is a lot of intergenerational trauma that affects our Indigenous people. We try to get to those root causes and support them in hopes that they don’t reoffend.

“We’re trying to divert from the criminal justice system into a more traditional, culturally appropriate way,” she says, noting one aspect of the restorative justice approach involves that person participating in a circle and taking responsibility with Elders and Knowledge Keepers present.

As well, each individual going through the program has a healing plan written for them, and the program reports back to the Crown prosecutors to inform them when that plan has been completed, after which charges are withdrawn.

“When I first heard about restorative justice years ago, it always sounded like a better way, for certain cases, than our traditional justice system,” Bradford says, noting that among her tasks is writing a healing plan.

Bradford, also a mother of five boys, credits the RBC grant with allowing her to cut back her normal employment hours to focus on her studies. She also says her time at RRU among her cohort has been invaluable to her overall experience.

“There are a lot of different backgrounds,” she explains. “So, getting the different perspectives has been really rewarding… Being able to just sit with an open mind and listen to their perspectives is a great way to learn.”

Through the generosity of the Royal Bank of Canada Foundation, RBC Community Integrated Learning Grants provide funding to students who are completing a career learning and development work term in the community with a small business, non-profit or charitable organization that could not otherwise provide wages or compensation.