Tribal Court & Peacemaking Center

Pokagon Tribal Court & Peacemaking Center is a culturally significant multi-purpose facility that houses a community peacemaking space as well as the tribal court system of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.

Programmatic areas include a courtroom, peacemaking room, waiting room, and 9,200 square feet of offices for justices and staff. The facility also houses the Tribal Police Headquarters, including an attached squad car garage, locker rooms, offices, and a training and emergency operations room. Separate public and staff entries are provided for the courts and police portions.

Native Justice is an indigenous community-based process focused on healing individuals and community as a whole. The Band is intentional in restoring the spirit and ideals of Native Justice, more commonly referred to as “peacemaking,” within the Pokagon community. The new facility provides proper space for individuals to participate in peacemaking efforts using an informal peacemaking round room and the circular courtroom, both of which approach healing relationships through a non-adversarial model.

The circular courtroom strengthens the traditional concept that everyone is equal – there is no hierarchy, adversarial positions, or winners vs. losers. The Peacemaking Room features an open fire pit as the main focal point. The circular design represents the traditional use of talking circles to heal individuals and the community from disputes and conflicts. Both spaces focus on cultural aspects of restorative justice compared to western judiciary practices.

From wall textures that reflect a woven ash basket to building orientation that honors the Four Directions, the Pokagon Tribal Court & Peacemaking Center integrates culture and tradition to establish connection to the land and to promote healing for all who enter.