“A Comparison of Developmental Ideologies: Navajo Peacemaker Courts and Canadian Native Justice Committees.”

Source: (1996) In: B. Galaway and J. Hudson (eds.), Restorative Justice: International Perspectives. Monsey, NY: Criminal Justice Press, pp. 207-223.

This article describes Navajo Peacemaker Courts and Alberta Youth Justice Committees. Peacemaker Courts are Navajo Nation courts that offer mediation in civil disputes. Youth Justice Committees are community-based sentencing advisory bodies for young offender courts. Similarities between these programs include using community members, involving family members, incorporating traditional Native practices, being less formal and adversarial than the courts, and having healing as a goal. The operational and developmental ideologies are also similar and include the ineffectiveness of Euro-based adversarial courts in dealing with Native offenders, the revitalization of traditional justice practices, and the need for increased community control.