Indigenous Peacemaking Through a Dakota Lens (Hosted by: NACRJ- Webinar Series)
Community and restorative justice continues to grow and expand across the U.S. and world. With that growth comes increased opportunities for trainings, conferences, and events to deepen one’s relationship with these practices. In our commitment to continual learning, practice, and facilitating connections, we offer this calendar as a go to place to share and find community and restorative justice events.
Please note: This calendar is intended to serve as a resource, and entries do not constitute an endorsement by NACRJ. We encourage individuals to independently evaluate the suitability of each event for their specific needs and preferences.
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Indigenous Peacemaking Through a Dakota Lens (Hosted by: NACRJ- Webinar Series)
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 (7:00 PM - 8:00 PM) (EDT)
Description
Hosted By: National Association of Community and Restorative Justice.
This session explores Indigenous peacemaking through a Dakota lens, shaped by the Wodakota Traditional Court and the Nacikinžiŋpi (“standing up again”) peacemaking system. Peacemaking will be presented not as a technique or intervention, but as a relational way of being rooted in Dakota language, values, kinship, and land. Participants will reflect on the difference between resolving conflict and restoring balance, the role of elders and community accountability, and how land teaches us.
Participants will explore how to:
- Understand Dakota peacemaking as relationship-centered governance, not a scripted practice.
- Explore how elders, language, and land function as active sources of guidance in healing processes.
- Consider how Indigenous frameworks can be engaged in institutional settings without extraction.
Webinar pricing is as follows:
NACRJ Members & 2026 National Conference Attendees: FREE
Non-members: $25
Featuring Natasha Gourd
Natasha Gourd is a Dakota educator, peacemaker, and Director of Education Strategies at the Consensus Council. Her work centers Indigenous-led approaches to conflict resolution, relational governance, and community healing. Natasha has helped design and support the Wodakota Traditional Court model and the Nacikinžiŋpi (“standing up again”) peacemaking system within tribal court settings, where Dakota language, values, and elder guidance form the foundation for accountability and repair.
We kick off on October 14, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET with another one of our most highly requested presenters, Natasha Gourd, whose conference session received incredible feedback:
“What was most useful to me during this session was: The discussion of "way of life" versus frameworks and toolkits and how to translate RJ to collaborative progress"
“What was most useful to me during the session was: Learning about the Dakota culture and circle that has been a part if their culture for generations. Also how their place at the table is still being dismissed.”
“What was most useful to me during the session was: Indigenous perspectives and history on restorative justice.”
New webinars will continue monthly through December, with upcoming presenters and topics announced soon.
For questions, please contact conference@nacrj.org.
Webinar pricing is as follows:
NACRJ Members & 2026 National Conference Attendees: FREE
Non Members: $25
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