 Last year, when Camia Weaver and partner Andrew Boston were surrounded and attacked by a gang of youths at Grandview Park, the story made a local community newspaper.
It described how the two, who live just off Commercial Drive, were walking up the street and past Grandview Park. Their path was blocked en route by a large group that seemed to be “loitering with intent,” as English bobbies are wont to say.
As Camia approached the group, she motioned that she wanted to go through, but her path was blocked. As Andrew walked through the throng, he was pushed. He pushed back, setting off a volley of shoves, kicks and punches that left Boston on the ground, with Weaver desperate to come to his aid.
In the end, the two made their escape with cuts and bruises to show for their plight, and Weaver sustained a dislocated wrist.
In an interview last year, Weaver, who has worked on and off for 20 years as a lawyer, was still confused about what happened next.
She felt the news story was just “quick and dirty,” dealing with the crime and punishment formula to which so much journalism is restricted, but wanted clarity “for what happens next” on the human level.
“I'm lucky I or Andrew wasn't injured more badly,” she said, in an interview a few months back in Joe's Cafe. “I could be dead, but I see no benefit in [sending the perpetrators to] jail. I'm a lawyer, so I've been there and done that. It's just crime school. The situation inside does not make you a happy person.”
At the time, Weaver mentioned two magic words in relation to her frustration—restorative justice.
“I'm into restorative justice and community justice,” she said. “I'm also wondering what the deal is with the Community Policing Office [by the park.] We need civilian watch and foot patrol to act as a deterrent.”
Weaver and Boston have since recovered from the injuries, but have always steadfastly refused to consider moving from the neighbourhood.
“We're not moving,” said Camia, again sitting at Joe's.
Rewinding almost four years, going back to 2000, activist Tom Sandborn emceed a spoken word forum at Bukowski's, two blocks from the park, based on the theme of restorative justice.
The speaker that night was Charlotte Gottschau, who was promoting the idea that restorative justice, whereby the emphasis is on exchanges between perpetrator and victim, instead of just incarceration, is a viable alternative to filling the jails.
On February 26, 2004, Oot & Aboot was put on the bulk e-mailing list, and has remained there ever since. We recently contacted Ms Gottschau, who is still engaged in restorative justice, to see what options may be available. Gottschau mentioned the Vancouver Police department and the non-profit John Howard society, which also endorses restorative justice and gets referrals from police in certain cases. However, while funding for JH is no longer certain, restorative justice is still a vital arm of the justice system.
Four Worlds International and the Squamish Nation will invite all members of the human family to their international conference, “Healing Ourselves, Healing the Human Family,” which they will co-host from November 18 to 21, 2004, at the Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel, with other special healing events to be held at the Squamish First Nation land.
The international gathering will feature indigenous healers, healing circle leaders and presenters and other healers and leaders who support “the healing of the human family and mother earth.”
It was also pointed out by Gottschau that restorative justice is being recognized worldwide for having reached the 30-year mark. A website links to strides made in the field.
Contact Charlotte Gottschau with any questions or to be put on the list by e-mailing <chargott@telus.net>. To see about restorative justice, go to their website.
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