My first thoughts have to do with the place at which Child and Youth Work and a Restorative philosophy and their practices converge.
Part of this has to do with the old becoming new. The Restorative philiosphy has deep roots in our culture through the practices of Aboriginal peoples. Their approach to harms and healing create the template for what has become in many forms the modern approach to peacemaking, healing circles and restorative practices.
Seeing individuals as part of a larger whole and community, seeing the potential to be the best that one can be when brought back to that place when one has erred and being able to mend and heal are all part of this world view found in Aboriginal teachings. (Read Rupert Ross's "Return to the Teachings" and Bopp et a. "The Sacred Tree" for a fuller description).
It is in circles where people are connected and related to each other that they can find strength, support and connection to have the hard conversations when facing others and the consequences and impacts of their and others actions.
As Child and Youth Workers where does this fit?
Well - much of our work is done in cirlces, whether it be in a house meeting in a residence, or sitting together at meal time, or around the campfire, or running groups in schools and classrooms, in groups with youth from courts, or sitting with families in their homes or working on the larger canvas of whole communities to build a circle that can emcompass all of its members. We have always been there in the middle and facilitating the process. And if the circles of support are not immediately there then our responsibility is to begin to build them for those who need to be restored.
Part of this has to do with the old becoming new. The Restorative philiosphy has deep roots in our culture through the practices of Aboriginal peoples. Their approach to harms and healing create the template for what has become in many forms the modern approach to peacemaking, healing circles and restorative practices.
Seeing individuals as part of a larger whole and community, seeing the potential to be the best that one can be when brought back to that place when one has erred and being able to mend and heal are all part of this world view found in Aboriginal teachings. (Read Rupert Ross's "Return to the Teachings" and Bopp et a. "The Sacred Tree" for a fuller description).
It is in circles where people are connected and related to each other that they can find strength, support and connection to have the hard conversations when facing others and the consequences and impacts of their and others actions.
As Child and Youth Workers where does this fit?
Well - much of our work is done in cirlces, whether it be in a house meeting in a residence, or sitting together at meal time, or around the campfire, or running groups in schools and classrooms, in groups with youth from courts, or sitting with families in their homes or working on the larger canvas of whole communities to build a circle that can emcompass all of its members. We have always been there in the middle and facilitating the process. And if the circles of support are not immediately there then our responsibility is to begin to build them for those who need to be restored.