Honouring the Truth Reconciling for the Future

224 • Truth & Reconciliation CommissionCultural services in prisons and jailsStudies based on interviews with Aboriginal inmates have confirmed thatAboriginal culture and spirituality can contribute to the healing of the inmates, toincreased self-esteem, and to positive changes in lifestyle that make release and reintegrationa real possibility. 149 Research suggests that recidivism rates for Aboriginaloffenders who had participated in spiritual activities (such as sweat lodge ceremonies)were lower than for those who had not. 150However, Aboriginal people receive few services in provincial correctional facilitiesthat are designed for those serving sentences of two years less a day or are awaitingtrial. Only a few provinces, such as British Columbia, have Aboriginal justice strategiesthat include cultural awareness training for officials and contracting with Aboriginalcommunities to provide spiritual leadership, counselling, and cultural programmingfor prisoners. 151The need for cultural programs in jail was expressed by a former residential schoolstudent who was an inmate at a correctional facility in Yellowknife. The Survivor toldthe Commission, “It would be nice if our own people would come in here and teachus about life ... you know, how to live. This is not the way of life for us. It’s not the wayfor us people. But if they would teach a program like that, that will catch somebodyfor sure.” 152There are some federal programs that appear to be working, but Aboriginal inmatesdo not have access to these programs in all parts of the country. For example, althoughAboriginal healing lodges within correctional facilities have great potential to assistAboriginal inmates, there are only four such lodges run by Correctional ServicesCanada and four run by Aboriginal communities under Section 81 of the Correctionsand Conditional Release Act. 153 Lack of funding and difficulties in recruiting and trainingstaff are obstacles to successful expansion of the healing lodge resources. In addition,prisoners must be classified as “minimum security” to be eligible, and 90% ofAboriginal inmates are assigned “medium” or “maximum” security classifications.Calls to Action35) We call upon the federal government to eliminate barriers to the creation of additionalAboriginal healing lodges within the federal correctional system.36) We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to work withAboriginal communities to provide culturally relevant services to inmates onissues such as substance abuse, family and domestic violence, and overcomingthe experience of having been sexually abused.