From April 3-5, 2024, ALS sent their Senior Gladue Program Managers, Amanda General (Gladue Writer Program) and Desirée Duplessis (Gladue Caseworker Program) to Vancouver, British Columbia to attend an interdisciplinary conference entitled “Justice as Trauma”, presented by Feather Walk (Jennifer Yong and Myrna McCallum, of the Trauma-Informed Lawyer Podcast).
The conference invited professionals from various parts of the country to think critically about the ways in which the justice system itself may traumatize and retraumatize those who encounter it, particularly Indigenous peoples. Through intriguing and illuminating Keynote speeches and presentations from great minds like the Honourable Michelle O’Bonsawin, Dr. Gabor Maté, and Marlee Liss, conference participants were invited to consider proven strategies to diminish traumatic impacts of experiencing the justice system and discuss what steps still need to be taken to achieve a trauma-informed justice process. Participants were also asked to split into breakout groups for more intimate and catered discussions of their experiences.
Some topics discussed included healing intergenerational trauma, restorative justice approaches to address person-to-person crime, combatting institutional betrayal with institutional courage, understanding the nature of racialized trauma, and healing in a toxic environment. Amanda and Desirée intend to use the perspectives gained from attending the conference to work toward a wholly trauma informed Gladue program.
Desirée Duplessis (she/her), BA JD
Senior Manager, Gladue Caseworker Program