Examination of Healing Lodges for Federal Offenders in Canada

• NCJ Number: 199223
• Journal: Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2002 Pages: 52-54
• Author(s): Nicole Crutcher; Shelley Trevethan
• Date Published: September 2002
• Length: 3 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

This study examined some of the features of healing lodges, which are used in Canada to assist in rehabilitating Aboriginal offenders, as well as the characteristics of residents of healing lodges.

Abstract

Many of the lodges are located in beautiful physical settings that may help relax the residents. Most healing lodges focus on Aboriginal culture and provide access to Aboriginal Elders or spiritual advisors, as well as a variety of cultural activities. The current study involved interviews with 56 staff in the Federal correctional institutions, 18 staff in the healing lodges, and 20 residents of healing lodges. The interviews focused on how the interviewees perceived the healing lodge experiences and issues associated with healing lodges. Socio-demographically, residents of healing lodges resemble Aboriginal offenders in minimum security; however, significantly larger proportions of Aboriginal offenders in minimum security are currently serving sentences for sex offenses. Residents of healing lodges apparently have slightly more extensive criminal histories than Aboriginal offenders in minimum security. The majority (80 percent) of healing lodge residents interviewed said they were very satisfied with their lodge experience. They indicated that the healing lodge helped them better understand themselves and control their behavior. Both staff of healing lodges and Federal facilities indicated that there was a lack of communication between Federal institutions and healing lodges. Some concerns were that Federal institutions lacked an understanding of the role of healing lodges, did not trust the effectiveness of healing lodges, and lacked commitment to corrections programs managed by Aboriginal staff. A number of respondents suggested that Federal staff should interact with healing lodge staff and residents, so as to gain a better understanding of the lodge's relevance to the rehabilitation of Aboriginal offenders. This article advises that the effectiveness of different models of healing lodges with various types of offenders should be examined in more detail. 1 table