Webinar: Sacred Justice - The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Native Justice Model; Unleashing the Power of the Circle
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
10am AKT/11am PT/12pm MT/1pm CT/2pm ET
Platform: zoom
Talking circles have long facilitated peaceful discussions and community gatherings. The circles have been a place of equality, and now they will serve as a model for Tribal Courts as the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi brings back a tradition from long ago: Native Justice. The Pokagon Band describes Native Justice, which they also refer to as Peacemaking, as an alternative route to justice and an entirely different way to define justice compared to the adversarial, Western model. It is how they resolved conflicts using their traditions and customs, resolving disputes between citizens, without using the Tribal Courts that are often used today. It utilizes ceremonial traditions, talking circles, and circle keepers to bring people involved in disputes to common ground. They have it broken into three strands: 1) Native Justice Community Education and Awareness; 2) Community based Native Justice Community Conflict and Dispute Peace Circles; and 3) Native Justice tools for the Court: i.e. diversion, probation, etc. , This webinar session will explore the philosophy, values, concepts, and framework of the Pokagon restorative justice model and their practices, differentiate them from those utilized in western system environments, and engage attendees in a discussion about how these models and practices are being implemented by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.
The webinar was created for CTAS PA 3 Grantees, and the broader public. All tribal CTAS PA3 grantees were invited to attend, and it was opened to the general public, other grantees, and tribes. It was sent to all 13 grantees, of which 3 attended. This was created in response to needs identified by grantee CTAS PA 3 narratives.
It was sent to all 13 grantees, of which 3 attended, including 1 non-grantee we are working with currently.
This was created in response to needs identified by grantee CTAS PA 3 narratives.
Registered Attendees: 176 registered
Actual Attended: Total: 98; Grantees: 3; Non-Grantee: 1; Tribal related agencies: 15; Government agencies: 3; and other agencies: 12
Evalutation: 98 were sent out; we received 36 evaluations back; and most strongly agreed or agreed that their knowledge increased on the topic, the information and discussion session provided through this webinar was satisfactory; it was relevant to their work, and it was applicable to their work and plan to use the knowledge, or skills learned at this webinar within the next three months. All other questions were answered the same positive way with a few exceptions.
The webinar was done via zoom.
The webinar was presented by Chief Judge Michael Petoskey (Grand Traverse Band)
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