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Intentional use of a talking piece in restorative circles can begin to undo what Edward Valandra calls “the First Harm” in his chapter “Undoing the First Harm: Settlers in Restorative Justice” in the book Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities. Land acknowledgments are good and require a next step of action to undo the harm. Valandra asks what’s blocking settlers from recognizing how the harm is perpetuated. It’s a powerful chapter which goes to the heart of repairing harm in our practice restorative justice or restorative practices.
Restorative practices suggestion:
- Use a talking piece with a handful of earth and the inscription “The land on which you stand rightfully belongs to (INSERT NAME OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES).”
Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities
Order Steve’s book The Restorative Principal Leading in Education with Restorative Practices