'They Call it a Healing Lodge, but Where is the Healing?': Indigenous Women, Identity, and Incarceration Programming
This thesis examines the impacts of state-run Indigenous programming on Indigenous women’s cultural identities post-incarceration. Despite attempts to alleviate Indigenous incarceration numbers since 1999, Indigenous women in Canada continue to be one of the fastest growing federally incarcerated populations, as their numbers have more than doubled since 2001 (OCI, 2016; Reitano, 2017; Statscan, 2017). It is projected, at its current rate that by 2030 there will be more than 6500 Indigenous women housed in a federal corrections institution (Innes, 2015; OCI, 2016; Reitano, 2017; Statscan, 2017). However, there is limited focus on the impacts the criminal justice system, incarceration, and Indigenous programming may have on their perceived identity as an Indigenous woman post-incarceration. Institutional program evaluations continue to give secondary status to the voices of those imprisoned while privileging the voices of those who are employed by Correctional Service Canada reinforcing a top-down approach. Inmates serving federal time can be housed across Canada, therefore, many Indigenous women who find themselves in these institutions may not be lodged in their traditional territories, and those who transfer to a healing lodge are transferred to the Prairies. While serving time within another First Nations territory, the Indigenous women have to partake in cultural programming that is not their own due to limited access to a diverse range of knowledge keepers and Elders. At the same time, if Indigenous women want to return to their families and communities sooner, they must engage in programming, and specifically Aboriginal programming to lower their risk status to be eligible for early release. By undertaking this research from the perspective of Indigenous women, state co-ordinated Indigenous programming can be understood through the eyes of those that have lived experience, giving voice to the silenced.
Indigenous Women, Incarceration, Indigenous Studies, Prison Programming, Identity, Penology, Prisons, Incarceration Programming
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