Supreme Court Prioritizes Indigenous Sentencing Circles Over Colonial Legal Norms, Exposing Systemic Bias in Justice Reform

Mi'kmaq legal traditions view justice as a relational process aimed at restoring harmony among the offender, victim, and community, guided by Elders and ceremonial practices such as smudging and storytelling. Sentencing circles operationalise this worldview by creating a space where all parties speak, and consensus determines outcomes rather than imposed penalties. This contrasts sharply with the adversarial, punitive logic of settler‑colonial courts that prioritise retribution and deterrence.