Roundtable: Reimagining Criminology: Indigenous Perspectives and the Decolonization of Discipline

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract/Description

This roundtable session delves into the colonial underpinnings of criminology, revealing how its foundational structures perpetuate the marginalization of Indigenous peoples. Acknowledging the discipline's historical complicity in epistemic violence against Indigenous communities, we invite a critical examination of criminology’s role within the colonial and settler colonial frameworks of crime control. Indigenous research methods, standing in stark contrast to criminology’s traditional paradigms, offer a pathway towards a more inclusive and equitable discipline. This gathering aims to unite Indigenous scholars, advocates, and supportive allies in a dialogue that scrutinizes the current failings of criminology and envisages a future where the discipline aligns with the values and needs of Indigenous peoples worldwide. By foregrounding Indigenous voices and perspectives, this session seeks to chart a course for criminology that moves beyond its colonial legacy, proposing a transformed practice that genuinely accommodates the complexity and diversity of human experiences with crime and justice.

Sub Unit

• Area XIV. Roundtables

Chair

• Cheryl Najera, College of the Muscogee Nation

Discussants

• Jeremy Braithwaite, Tribal Law and Policy Institute

• Heather Valdez Freedman, Tribal Law and Policy Institute