We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to work with Aboriginal communities to provide culturally relevant services to inmates on issues such as substance abuse, family and domestic violence, and overcoming the experience of having been sexually abused.
Why “In Progress?”
By implementing the community reintegration initiatives supported by the Community Reintegration Fund, the Correctional Service of Canada is better positioned to strengthen the engagement of Indigenous peoples in planning the successful release of Indigenous offenders under Section 84 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.
Funding supports trauma, addictions, life skills counselling and gang disaffiliation for Indigenous offenders with particular focus on the Indigenous Intervention Centres in the Correctional Service of Canada’s institutions and the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge, located in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.
Key initiatives of Community Reintegration Fund include:
- increased number of Indigenous community liaison officers and Indigenous community development officers to improve and expand linkages to communities on behalf of Indigenous offenders
- enhanced reintegration support services to Indigenous offenders in rural and remote communities to better respond to the needs of Indigenous offenders
- increased access in urban areas to Indigenous-specific counselling and support in the areas of substance abuse, trauma and life skills
- funding for the Indigenous Offender Employment Initiative that commenced in the prairie region with the implementation of new training and employment initiatives at 3 healing lodges and 1 medium or minimum-security institution
The Correctional Investigator has also made numerous recommendations in his annual reports addressing the need for culturally relevant services for Indigenous inmates especially given the overrepresentation of Indigenous men and women in federal prisons.
Some Provinces and Territories are also addressing C2A # 36 directly.
Current Status
In Progress
Call to Action
last updated
April 12, 2024
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