Aboriginal Spirituality in Corrections (From Native Americans, Crime, and Justice, P 239-253, 1996, Marianne O Nielsen and Robert A Silverman, eds. -- See NCJ-168132)

• NCJ Number: 168160
• Author(s): J B Waldram
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 15 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Canada Correctional Service
• Sale Source: Westview Press, Inc
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Edited version of an article in the American Indian Quarterly, V 18, N 1 (Spring 1994).

Annotation

In order to assess the therapeutic value of Aboriginal inmates' participation in native ceremonies while in prison, this study conducted interviews with 30 Aboriginal offenders at the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Abstract

The interviews were conducted over a 13-month period in the early 1990's. The author also observed a variety of psychological and traditional Aboriginal treatments. An ethnographic interview approach used open-ended questions and discussion to detail the respondents' cultural and prison experiences. Aboriginal Elders who worked with the Aboriginal offenders were also interviewed. Participant observation was used to gain a better understanding of the offenders' experiences with various spiritual and traditional healing components. Based on the findings and a case study, the author argues that the therapeutic aspect of Aboriginal spirituality is not being fully recognized in correctional programs. The current system of disinterested non- communication between the Aboriginal and biomedical healing systems appears to be having some detrimental effect on the spirituality programs, because restrictive conditions are placed on the spiritual activities, under the assumption that these are "religious" practices that are analogous to the work of the various Christian denominations in the prisons. 8 notes