Newsroom
Calling Tribal Teens!
Want to have a voice and make a positive impact within your community? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of other tribal youth? Then Teen Court may be for you!
Tribal Court is currently accepting applications from tribal youth, ages 13-17, for the inaugural session of Teen Court, “Weshkinigidjig-Dibaakinigewin: those who are young, judging with widom.” We will start with an orientation session, and then meet every other week on Tuesday afternoons from 2:30-5 p.m.
Weshkinigidjig-Dibaakinigewin (Teen Court) is a part of the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribal Court, and is a restorative justice program. This means we are not trying to punish the juvenile offender. Instead we:
Instill a sense of wrong-doing on the defendant,
Assign consequences for actions with positive peer pressure to ensure they won’t repeat this offense, and
Restore what was taken from the victim as well as the community.
As a member of Weshkinigidjig-Dibaakinigewin you get to BE the Court. Teen Court is a real sentencing court for juvenile offenders. Members of Teen Court do not determine the juvenile’s guilt or innocence. Instead, after receiving training, members will have the opportunity to act as an “attorney” for the juvenile offender explaining the mitigating circumstances, as the “prosecuting attorney” for the Tribe arguing the aggravating circumstances, or sit as a peer juror to decide the juvenile respondent’s “sentence,” or disposition. As a juror, Teen Court members get to listen to the facts of the case, identify why the respondent committed the offense, and assign consequences that will help the juvenile respondent repair the harm to the community, such as community service, papers, jury duty, letters of apology, curfews.
For applications, to submit your logo entry, or further information, please contact the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribal Court at (906) 635-4963.
LOGO CONTEST!
In conjunction with the kick-off of Weshkinigidjig-Dibaakinigewin, Tribal Court is seeking the assistance of Tribal Youth artists with the design of the new Weshkinigidjig-Dibaakinigewin Logo. The winning design will receive a $50 value prize to be determined and the winning design will become the official logo for the Teen Court and will be featured in all official Weshkinigidjig-Dibaakinigewin documents and attire.