AbstractThe Peace History Society's biennial conference, virtual in October 2021, was organized in Georgia. The land acknowledgment offered at that event recognized the dispossession and expulsion of the Cherokee and Muscogee (Creek) Nations from their lands in that state in the 1830s. This essay reflects on the significance of this acknowledgment and on further steps that can be taken to include and engage with Indigenous peoples and perspectives.

Peace & ChangeVolume 48, Issue 2 p. 85-87 GUEST EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION Struggling for peace, struggling for justice: The 2021 Peace History Society conference issue Jonathan Taylor Downs, Jonathan Taylor Downs Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USASearch for more papers by this authorMegan Neary, Megan Neary Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USASearch for more papers by this authorLeslie Whitmire, Corresponding Author Leslie Whitmire [email protected] Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Correspondence Leslie Whitmire, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorIan Christopher Fletcher, Ian Christopher Fletcher Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USASearch for more papers by this author Jonathan Taylor Downs, Jonathan Taylor Downs Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USASearch for more papers by this authorMegan Neary, Megan Neary Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USASearch for more papers by this authorLeslie Whitmire, Corresponding Author Leslie Whitmire [email protected] Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Correspondence Leslie Whitmire, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorIan Christopher Fletcher, Ian Christopher Fletcher Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 08 May 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/pech.12614Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume48, Issue2Special Issue: Struggling for Peace, Struggling for Justice: The 2021 Peace History Society Conference IssueApril 2023Pages 85-87 RelatedInformation

International Indigenous rights coalitions increasingly involve Indigenous and non-Indigenous civil society organizations (CSOs) with diverse backgrounds and interests. As these organizations more frequently interact and partner with one another, what issues are being emphasized in their advocacy efforts? This study utilizes content analysis of 60 Indigenous rights organizations’ websites, as well as interviews of several leaders and staff, to explore whether African Indigenous organizations emphasize different aspects of Indigenous rights in their messaging and advocacy than their other Indigenous and non-Indigenous coalition partners, We find that African Indigenous CSOs discuss issues of unequal treatment more frequently, and issues of self-determination and assimilation less frequently, than their coalition partners. The messaging of Indigenous organizations outside of Africa contained similar themes as that of non-Indigenous CSOs. This raises questions regarding why these messages differ: do African Indigenous groups have distinct concerns and/or are there other reasons for the variance in messaging across international Indigenous rights coalitions.

Scholarship on human rights and environmental justice suggests that organizations vary in their messaging regarding outcomes related to environmental protection and sustainability, differences often found in the divide between the Global North and Global South. The literature also suggests that Indigenous organizations represent groups that traditionally focus on issues of sovereignty, while grappling with unique problems related to assimilation, cultural preservation, and oppression. This study utilizes empirical data gathered from 333 non-governmental organizations affiliated with the United Nations Human Rights Council to explore whether Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations, which share many aspects of their mission with one another at the transnational level, differ on issues related to environment sustainability and collective identity rights. Our results indicate that Indigenous organizations take a more holistic approach in addressing the relationship between humans and the natural world, centring marginalized perspectives through restorative justice and the needs of current and future generations.

Restorative justice emphasizes the restoration of relationships and has many potential applications in everyday life. Drawing on my experience as a practitioner of restorative justice in my role as a defense victims outreach specialist, this article reflects on my job's impact on my life at home and in the community. Finally, I explore the potential for the use of restorative justice in settings outside of the workplace.