The Trauma-Informed Lawyer

In 2019, Marlee Liss's sexual assault case became the first in North America to get resolved in a restorative justice process instead of ending up in a criminal trial. Today, Marlee Liss is a restorative justice advocate, award-winning speaker, and embodiment coach. Her story is a testament that restorative justice provides a rare opportunity for survivors to heal in a way that respects their need for boundaries, care, and consent...while also initiating a transformative process for those who cause harm.

Marlee’s social media handle is @marleeliss. Find her work at www.marleeliss.com 

The second edition of her (poetry) book Re-Humanize is just out.

This episode discusses sexual violence,suicide and sexual harm. If you need support please call 8-1-1 in Canada or visit https://endingviolencecanada.org/sexual-assault-centres-crisis-lines-and-support-services/ for a list of crisis lines, support services and sexual assault centres in your area. 

You can learn more about Myrna and her work at: www.myrnamccallum.ca

Today's episode is a special one. I am sharing an episode of Ben Perrin's podcast, Indictment: the Criminal Justice System on Trial which can be found here: https://indictment.simplecast.com/ In the most recent episode of Indictment, Ben shares Harold Johnson's final public talk - and what a gift it is to listen to Harold one more time. 

For more info on the Justice as Trauma Conference, please check out: www.justiceastrauma.ca 

Below is a copy of Ben's show notes from the original Indictment episode: 

Powerful. Unflinching. Visionary. Hear Indigenous lawyer and author Harold Johnson (1957-2022) deliver his final public lecture powerfully indicting the Canadian criminal justice system and making an impassioned case for Indigenous justice. A member of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Harold was a Harvard-trained Crown prosecutor and criminal defence lawyer who quit practising law because of the harm it was causing Indigenous people. Instead, he devoted the rest of his life to advocating for Indigenous justice and developing and implementing initiatives to bring healing and restoration in Indigenous communities. This special episode was recorded live on November 8, 2021 at the UBC Peter A. Allard School of Law in Vancouver as Harold spoke to the entire first year class. Harold Johnson passed away three months later on February 9, 2022. His legacy and words live on.

Harold's book include:

Harold Johnson, Peace and Good Order: The Case for Indigenous Justice in Canada 

Harold Johnson, Firewater: How Alcohol Is Killing My People (and Yours)

Order your copy of Indictment: The Criminal Justice System on Trial  (Aevo UTP, 2023). Visit www.benjaminperrin.ca for the latest news and upcoming events. Thank you to Joan Johnson for permission to share this lecture. 

You can learn more about Myrna and her work at: www.myrnamccallum.ca

Louise Marra is a systems healer and founder of Spirited Leadership and Unity House. By coaching companies and NGOs across sectors in New Zealand, Louise aims to create a space for what she terms "walking restorers." These individuals can foster new relationships and promote practices that help heal historical wounds that creep into today’s workplaces. Louise believes that leaders have the responsibility to bring restoration of past and present trauma into their organizations.

Louise’s book is called “ReRoot: The Nature of Change Through the System of Trees”. Watch out for a trauma-informed leadership course with Louise Marra on the pocketproject.org

You can learn more about Myrna and her work at: www.myrnamccallum.ca

Natalie Gutierrez, author of The Pain We Carry, Healing from Complex PTSD for People of Color, is a critical POC voice in a wellness space dominated by white trauma experts. Through her personal lens and professional lens as a Puerto Rican complex trauma therapist, Natalie explains how historical and cultural trauma is experienced by Black people, Indigenous people and People of Colour - and how cultural burdens and legacies inform our relationships and internal family systems. 

Natalie is remarkable and you can catch her among a line-up of powerful presenters at the upcoming Justice As Trauma conference, in Vancouver from April 3-5, 2024. Please visit https://www.myrnamccallum.co/justiceastrauma for details - and don’t forget to order her book, The Pain We Carry: Healing from Complex PTSD for People of Color. 

You can learn more about Myrna and her work at: www.myrnamccallum.ca

The justice system in Canada is broken. It traumatizes people who go through it and leaves them worse off. But how can we change a system that refuses to transform itself? Today, I talk with Benjamin Perrin, a law professor at the University of British Columbia Allard School of Law. We talk about how this revolutionary author is shaking up the status quo with his book and podcast series, Indictment: Criminal Justice System on Trial, and about the tools and approaches that break the cycles of harm and trauma in the courts, policing and prisons. It's time to challenge the system! 

Check out Ben's companion podcast at https://indictment.simplecast.com/ and his website for more info: https://benjaminperrin.ca/

If you want to attend the Justice as Trauma Conference, where Ben will be speaking alongside Dr. Gabor Mate and others, you can find more details here: https://www.myrnamccallum.co/justiceastrauma

You can learn more about Myrna and her work at: www.myrnamccallum.ca

Kisâkihitin, nitanis means "I love you, my daughter" however many of my people also accept the interpretation, "I love you, my girl". This is a personal story about my mom and I. Her name was Judy Marilyn McCallum. This story is my contribution to National Truth and Reconciliation Day, 2023. One day - maybe - this story will be published among other stories in a book. 

CW: I cover topics including suicide, sexual assault, child abuse, physical violence, residential school, Indian hospitals, medical experimentation and addiction. The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line provides 24-hour crisis support to former Indian Residential School students and their families toll-free at 1-866-925-4419.

You can learn more about Myrna and her work at: www.myrnamccallum.ca

Ret. Police Officer Dan Jones and I discuss the disturbing trend of dehumanizing Indigenous women in Canada. The most recent case in point: the refusal of the Manitoba premiere to search for the remains of Marcedes Myran and Morgan Harris. This episode may be triggering for some as we discuss murder, violence, sexual abuse, policing, homelessness, sex workers, and the Pickton murders. 

You can learn more about Myrna and her work at: www.myrnamccallum.ca

What does it mean to be visible in a job where you need to remain impartial? Today on the show, I speak with Michael Sonberg, a retired NYC judge who was one of the founding members of the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges. We talk about Michael’s experiences as an openly gay judge and how the Association is helping to build community for LGBTQ2S+ members of the judiciary all over the world. We may be at the end of Pride Month, but pride and solidarity are a year-round practice. 

You can learn more about Myrna and her work at: www.myrnamccallum.ca

This truth and reconciliation episode with my daughter, Alicia, and Dr. Judy Jaunzems-Fernuk, is inspired by a recent event which transpired at a local Women of Distinction awards ceremony in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 

You can learn more about Myrna and her work at: www.myrnamccallum.ca

Myrna's conversation with Vina Brown of Copper Canoe Woman Creations will uplift and inspire you. Vina Brown is a force, a healer, a helper, an artist and a successful Indigenous business owner. This conversation explores healing trauma for Indigenous people including the long-silenced/secret many carry: childhood sexual abuse (trigger warning) and the need for communities to heal together. CW: This episode also discusses eating disorders, sexual trauma, grief and loss. 

You will hear about an upcoming Indigenous-only course called "LoveBack" so if you're interested in attending, contact [email protected] for more information. 

Please follow @coppercanoewoman on IG and order some "LoveBack" earrings today!

You can learn more about Myrna and her work at: www.myrnamccallum.ca