ASK Salt Spring: Answered - Ep. 51 Restorative Justice: Laura Dafoe

Episode Date: January 14, 2025

Damian Inwood talks to Laura Dafoe about Restorative Justice on Salt Spring Island

My name is Damien Inwood. I'm here with Laura Dafoe who is the volunteer facilitator and a board member of restorative justice here on Salt Spring Island. We've just been in Ask Salt Spring and this is Ask Salt Spring Answered when we talk about things that have come up in the meetings today. So before we start, I know you told me that you'd gone through this in a previous meeting, but it wasn't in today's meeting. Could you just briefly describe what restorative justice is? So most people think of restorative justice as a process to keep people out of prisons, an alternative to our traditional way of resolving crime. When someone's committed harm in the community, you know, often the way things

are done is they are charged and be punished with some sort of way of punishment. A fine or a prison sentence or something. A fine, prison sentence. With restorative justice, we have a process where the person who has done some harm comes together with the person they have harmed or people they have harmed and understand the impact of their actions and understand what needs they were trying to meet by their actions and find ways of making right or find ways of healing that harm. Right. So as you said at the meeting today, it's a way to move forward. And we had a very good session this morning, I think, with all the different, there was over 20 people there today. We went around in the circle.

It's always in a circle, right? Well, what we did today was a circle process. That's one sort of aspect of what restorative justice processes look like. You know, we have, we're not getting as many cases referred to us as in the past. Throughout BC, that's happening for a number of reasons. So around the world, restorative justice processes, the principles of restorative justice are a growing movement. And particularly in schools, they're using restorative justice

because the kids were being expelled or punished when they've done something wrong. And then there's a lot of shame and kids are expelled and they miss school. It really does no good. So with restorative justice, they take the time to, you know, work through, you know, different things that have come up. And these principles are really working in schools to keep, make schools safe and inclusive and deal with all sorts of issues in schools. So here on Salt Spring, we are really expanding to deal with different things in the community, offering ways of having dialogue where people really listen to each other. All right. So we, there were sort of, I guess, some rules involved with where we were today, which

were that there was a talking piece, which is a feather, right? And I think it was quite interesting the way you described that, about the feather being easily ruffled and also, you know, when it can be smoothed out, it works more efficiently and that you need more than one for a bird or an eagle to fly. Speak and listen with respect. Speak and listen from the heart and give others time to speak, to say what they want to say.

And then the other aspect of is the honor of confidentiality within the within the circle so you're you're talking about issues or problems but not about people about personalities right is that correct so so uh we we call them guidelines or agreements. It's something that everyone wants to see in the space. Everybody wants to listen. Everybody wants to be heard. We try to create a space where everyone's voice is heard and matters.

And equality, a sense of equality within the group. Right. And then we sort of got down to some nuts and bolts, really. When we broke into small groups and we talked about guiding questions, which are questions that we would, the groups would like to see discussed in restorative justice sessions to try and make things on Salt Spring better, right? And I'll just work through a few of them just so that our listeners can see where we were going. There was housing in the environment, bringing organizations together. We talked about isolation in the community due to COVID

particularly. There was quite a lot of discussion about how to make communication online less polarized and more, I guess, more of a polite conversation as opposed to it sometimes breaks into people insulting each other or making claims about each other that aren't necessarily true. One interesting one I thought was, can we be known for something other than an argument surrounded by water? Thank you, Voldy. Yeah, and I think that actually has some traction.

It seemed to, certainly, from the group there. People wanted to talk about population growth and empty properties. I guess that fits into the official community plan debate that people have been having. Domestic disputes, which is a great thing, as you've said, that, you know, to keep that out of the legal system and into a restorative justice system would be would save people a you know lawyers fees and all the kind of antagonism that goes on between two parties when they when they fight with each other landlord-tenant issues that's another very important one here on Salt Spring the US impact on Canada in the next four years redressing wrongs and how to do that that's sort of the restorative justice process I guess

public transportation I that was interesting to me I wasn't expecting to hear that as a restorative justice issue but obviously it could be, right? Barriers for the disabled, island governance, do people have a voice, Japanese internment, the results of that, reconciliation with First Nations, climate action and homes, and community safety. So it was very broad, wasn't it? Yeah, it was surprisingly broad, and that's what happens when we open up to our collective brains and people come up with all these things that we didn't even think of, and that's part of the beauty of the process. This seems like restorative justice work,

but it's basic to how we all used to do to have conversations and work together and that's what we're trying to sort of get back to slowing down conversations you know for for no matter what slowing down conversations um have them integrated you know conversations and and really really tapping into everybody's collective creativity, wisdom, and all the gifts we have to bring to resolving conflicts. So yeah, I was really surprised to see some of these things come up too, and hoping that people can learn these processes and use them in many different places in community.

Right. So I gather that once a month now, you or somebody from your organization is going to come in to ask Salt Spring and we're going to go through these issues, I guess, one by one. Yeah, there was a... Try to figure out solutions to... Yeah, we've got many years worth.

Yeah, so right now, Gail's invited us to come the first week, Friday of each month. And so we'll be there to do this sort of process each month. Is it the second Friday of each month? Second so we'll be there to do this sort of process each month. Is it the second Friday of each month? Second Friday?

Second Friday already, yeah. Second Friday, thank you. And yeah, so we didn't have time today to prioritize these, and it's hard to prioritize them because they're all important. Right. So I don't know what Gail will pick for the next one. Right. And how would this end up working i mean obviously it's it's it's all well and good for a small group of people from very diverse

backgrounds to sit around and talk about this stuff but how do you then take that step and to actually make change in the community that's an interesting yeah so we talked today about the the i talked today about peter block's book abundant communities and he he's like really uh talks about accountability and engagement what what can we each bring to you know make a difference and and we all have something we can bring so you know and and we people feel motivated i heard one you know, and we, people feel motivated. I heard, you know, at the end of the day, people said they felt motivated and inspired to do something different. And we start thinking outside the box how we can contribute. A lot of people want to help and they don't think they can

because they don't see that their particular, you know, gifts can, what can I do? But we can contribute in so many different ways is there a sort of a way down the road to look at perhaps having a sort of a town hall meeting around these particular subjects and and broaden it out into the community further than just in the ask salt spring absolutely yeah we can you, there's all sorts of possibilities. That's sort of what came out of this time together is that we want to look at Salt Spring not an island of problems, but an island of possibilities.

You know, and we saw that today. Right. And you left us with some homework, actually, with a question at the end, and that was, what would it look like if we achieved a truly united community? What steps can we take to get there? And what steps can we take to ensure everyone feels they have a stake in our community's success?

That's a big question, isn't it? It is. And then, you know, I was reminded, Gary Holman actually reminded me of, you know, what we have accomplished here on Salt Spring. There has been many amazing things happen here, and things do get done. And so let's look at that. What happened? How did that get done so smoothly?

What worked? Why? And I can't think right now what all the things that he listed, but lots of things do get done. So let's keep doing that and making those things happen so instead of focusing on the problems but so that's a i'm interested to see if anybody comes up with a creative way of answering that question you know yeah because yeah because it's um i mean obviously we can all do our own thing, right?

And, you know, they say, of course, you know, the butterfly wing, one meter of the butterfly wing will make change. Yeah. But to actually get it out there takes perhaps more than the butterfly. But anyway, so when we come back next time are we going to look at this question or are we going to just move into one of the other questions that came up

do you think, how is it going to start? Well we haven't decided yet but you can certainly write to us at our, look at Restorative Justice our website and there's our email address is there and or talk to Gail and say, you know, let's talk. This is what I'd like to see at the next Ask Salt Spring.

I'm not sure. Okay. But I would like to explore that question more. Yeah. Yeah, indeed. So. Post it on, meanwhile, on Salt Spring and see what comes up. Yeah.

Yeah, indeed. Now, if people want to volunteer or get in touch, they do it through your website. Yeah. And you said the best thing to do is just is to google restorative justice. I think it's info at rjssi.org. Okay, and is this a totally, this is a totally volunteer organization. We have one paid person, our program coordinator. And Jessica Derzakis is our current program coordinator. And the rest of us are volunteers. And it started many years ago, over 25 years ago, I think. Do you want me to mention people that have been involved?

Charles Kahn and Roberta Temel were involved from way back then. ago I think yeah don't you mention people that have been involved yeah Charles Kahn and Roberta Tamil have been really were involved from way back then and I forget the woman who started Irene somebody anyway Roberta funding just our funding right grant writing and donations yeah and grant the funding is And donations. Donations, yeah. And the funding is tight right now after COVID. So that's always a concern because we completely rely on grants. Is there a way to donate through the website or how do people do it? Yeah, well, I would have to email and say, I'd like to make a donation.

And yes, we are a non-profit organization, so you definitely get a tax receipt. And what do you get out of this? You know, you spoke quite at some length today, actually, about how involved you are and how inspired it makes you and that kind of thing. So what do you think, I mean, being actually actively involved in restorative justice,

what does that do for you? I am connected with the community in a way that I feel gives me purpose. I like being around younger people, and we have some really wonderful new young folks volunteering so that's I really get inspired by by the the wisdom of our young folk and and I like contributing to my community and I guess in some ways it connects me with my ancestors because restorative justice is based on indigenous ways of being and I feel like I'm sort of walking that walk and carrying it on

and helping slow down the pace of the world a little bit and nurture relationships and things like that that are important to me. Right. And interestingly, talking about young people, of course, you know, Salt Spring has a kind of majority of older people. Yeah, yeah. And to be able to understand more of the young person's perspective, I think that's one of the big things lacking on Salt Spring actually. For me anyway, that it's hard to get a grip on, you know, the younger

generation and what their hopes and aspirations are, and how they deal with problems themselves. And I think they deal with their problems in a different way than we do, you know, the older people do. I'm inspired by the wisdom of our young folks, and we have some really wonderful new volunteers, and so, yeah, so they're going to give us a lot of fresh ideas and ways of being, so yeah. Well, I know when we went around the circle with the one word that people felt coming out of it, and I think the most used one was hopeful. Yeah.

I think out of all the different words that came up. Yeah. So hopeful is good, I think. I like it. Hope. Yes. Well, thanks very much for coming in, Laura. Thanks.

You've been listening to me, Damien Inwood, on Ask Salt Spring Answered on CHIR FM. We are the voice of the Gulf Islands.