Who We Are

Onashowewin Inc. has been in existence since 2002. Onashowewin provides Aboriginal Restorative Justice services for urban Aboriginal people in the city of Winnipeg. Our mandate is to provide service to individuals who have been in conflict with the law and we work to repair damaged relationships between victim and offender through the use of Restorative Justice practices. Our clients at are predominately referred by the Manitoba Crown Attorneys Office however, we are currently working on strategies to expand our client base.

Onashowewin provides thoughtfully designed programs and workshops that allow for offenders to assume responsibility for their actions and for victims to have a voice and an opportunity to address wrongdoing. To accomplish these actions, Onashowewin uses culturally appropriate techniques to educate, mediate and mend relationships as well as to prevent recidivism.

What Do We Do?

Onashowewin accepts referrals from a number of sources for people who have been charged with a variety of offences. We accept both young offenders as well as adults at various points in the justice system. We offer victim/offender mediation, Community Justice Forums, conciliation as well as programs for offenders.

Our program is not retributive, as is the mainstream justice system. We do not punish, even though we do hold offenders accountable for their actions. We do not judge people based on a single criminal incident. Our approach is to try and address underlying issues that have led to criminal behaviors. Our objective is to help restore, heal and transform relationship and the community.

When we meet with an offender, we help identify issues that may be contributing to criminal behaviors. In cases in which the victim is willing to participate we also work with the victim to help them deal with issues stemming from the incident. We may facilitate victim-offender mediation, peacemaking circles and conciliation. These may lead to agreements in which the offender provides a formal apology, pays restitution, performs community service, etc.

We may also have the offender take on of our in-house programs or we may refer them out to other community programs, services or assessments. We also have a list of community Elders that clientele may request to be referred to.

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