“Indigenous Overrepresentation in Federal Corrections: Urgent Call for Transformation”
Indigenous people are disproportionately represented in the federal corrections system, as revealed by a recent report from the Office of the Correctional Investigator. The BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) is now calling for a desperate and urgent transformation to address this issue. The report highlights the failure of Correctional Services Canada to effectively tackle the over-incarceration of Indigenous people in federal prisons. Currently, Indigenous individuals make up 32 percent of the federal inmate population, an increase from 23 percent in 2013, totaling approximately 4,200 incarcerated individuals. Shockingly, Indigenous women now account for half of all female federal inmates.
BCAFN Regional Chief Terry Teegee emphasizes the necessity for the federal government to collaborate with First Nations in implementing the recommendations put forth by Dr. Ivan Zinger, the Correctional Investigator. Teegee asserts that transforming the justice system aligns with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and is a critical and urgent component. He expresses concern over numerous reports shedding light on the issue without any accountability for decisive action and tangible change.
The current funding disparity between state-run healing lodges and community-run health lodges is another issue highlighted in Zinger’s report. State-run healing lodges receive nearly double the funding compared to community-run health lodges, undermining Indigenous-led approaches to self-determination, restoration, and well-being. Furthermore, the report reveals that only 2 percent of Indigenous individuals in federal custody are serving their sentences in community-run Section 81 Healing Lodges. In the past decade, only one new Section 81 Healing Lodge has been established, with none in Ontario, the Atlantic region, the north, or any community-run facility in the Pacific region.
Zinger criticizes the federal government for spending significantly more on state-run healing lodges and states that the two-tiered system undermines efficiency and makes no sense. He calls for the return of state-run healing lodges to Indigenous title, as originally intended. His report highlights the pervasive discrimination within the correctional system, evident in factors like pretrial detention periods and placement in maximum-security institutions.
Zinger’s frustrations with the current failed policies and approaches to address Indigenous over-incarceration in Canada are clear. The report, based on interviews with over 220 individuals, including inmates, elders, and correctional staff, further uncovers the mistreatment of Indigenous inmates, with one individual comparing their experiences to residential schools, where they were put down and lied to.
The urgent need for transformation and justice reform in addressing Indigenous overrepresentation in federal corrections cannot be ignored. The voices of Indigenous people demanding change must be heeded, and collaborative efforts with First Nations must be initiated. It is time for decisive action, tangible change, and a shift towards a more inclusive, fair, and just justice system that respects and upholds the rights of Indigenous peoples. Only then can we truly embrace the spirit of reconciliation and move towards a more equitable society for all.
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