Emergence of Contemporary Indigenous Restorative Justice in Canada

Abstract

From time to time, I have been asked to write on Indigenous rights in Canada, which poses a challenge because there are many Indigenous Nations in Canada each with their own differing communities, cultures, and histories. This time I was asked to write about Indigenous restorative justice in Canada. I have been personally involved in and followed Indigenous justice issues for many years, both as a lawyer and as a jurist. This piece is my attempt to articulate the emergence of Indigenous restorative justice across Canada from its earliest days beginning in the 1960’s to the present date. It should acquaint the reader with an overview with sufficient references to allow one to pick up the threads to continue follow the evolution of Canadian Indigenous restorative justice into the future.