Home From School: Indigenous Peoples and the Second Harm

the photo shows the center of a restorative dialogue circle that is often a format used for training and discussion. Many restorative values, books, and sentimental objects of significance fill the colorful center to help ground participants during circle.
Visual from documentary shown at the Event

Coming together in solidarity, mutuality, with respect for self-determination and sovereignty

“This was a deep experience, held with sensitivity and respect” – Participant

In honoring Indigenous Peoples and native leadership in restorative practices, CCRJP hosted White Buffalo Youth Prevention from Wind River, Wyoming for our October Restorative and Racial Justice (RJ2+) Event Series.

“Waŋbli Wapȟáha Hokšila/Dr. Edward Valandra, Living Justice Press senior editor, describes the second harm as the “stealing of people & culture with the first harm being the stealing of land”.”

Hosted at BRITE Collaborative (formerly LCJP) in Longmont, Colorado, CCRJP with new friends from Wind River welcomed each other onto Northern Arapaho ancestral lands with the intent of focusing on rebuilding relationship. From the start of our time together, we asked,

“How do we want to go about a land acknowledgement?” The answer emerged, “Together!”

the photo shows the center of a restorative dialogue circle that is often a format used for training and discussion. Many restorative values, books, and sentimental objects of significance fill the colorful center to help ground participants during circle.

Circle items gathered for our shared time together

Erica Lee with Restorative Justice Practice, who grew up in Longmont shared from her life experience of being a child playing on the land beneath our feet and Rich Singer, Community Prevention Specialist from the Crow Tribe, shared about the land through time being an enduring and sacred place.

After inviting Rich to share in his native language a prayer for our time together, we watched the documentary Home From School: The Children of Carlisle. The film dives into the history of the flagship federal boarding school, Carlisle Indian Industrial School, and follows the modern day journey of the Northern Arapaho Tribe as they seek to bring home the remains of three children who died at Carlisle over 100 years ago. To move forward they needed to heal from the past, and in doing so they forge the way for other tribes to follow.

the photo shows the center of a restorative dialogue circle that is often a format used for training and discussion. Many restorative values, books, and sentimental objects of significance fill the colorful center to help ground participants during circle.

Pictured community members gathered after our shared time together at CCRJP’s RJ2+ Event

Millie Friday, White Buffalo Youth/Tobacco Prevention Coordinator, was featured in the film and shared afterwards about the impacts of living the film. Having supported the youth to take a leadership role in the journey to Carlisle, Millie continues her work with the youth focusing on how “culture is prevention”. Four youth mentors, including one also featured in the film, facilitated two circles to reflect, connect, and focus on what the impact of the documentary was for us personally. Afterwards, the youth mentors shared about utilizing in their work the Mending Broken Hearts culturally-informed curriculum developed for and by Native Americans interested in addressing the “soul wound” related to cultural loss.

Highlighting how a focus on rebuilding is inherently relational, we closed our time together, connecting one on one, exchanging contact info, resources, stories, and goodwill with smiles and nods of deep appreciation for time well shared.

the photo shows the center of a restorative dialogue circle that is often a format used for training and discussion. Many restorative values, books, and sentimental objects of significance fill the colorful center to help ground participants during circle.
Native youth leading the way by welcoming everyone in with their art

To support White Buffalo Youth Prevention, visit https://windrivercares.com/white-buffalo-recovery/ or contact Millie Friday via email at melissa.friday@whitebuffalorecovery.org

To view the documentary, visit https://visionmakermedia.org/product/home-from-school-the-children-of-carlisle

CCRJP hopes to co-host more restorative opportunities for connections like this in the future. To stay up to date on offerings, consider signing up for our quarterly newsletter!

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