Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA

ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES

Healing and Reintegration of Offenders

Program Name:

Buffalo Sage Wellness House (BSWH) Section 81 Healing Lodge

Organization/Community:

Native Counselling Services of Alberta

Location:

Edmonton, Alberta

Website:

www.ncsa.ca

Goals and Objectives:

To assist women in effecting change within to enable them to make different choices after their release. Target Group Description: Incarcerated women

Program Description:

Each interaction with the women is carefully handled as the women are learning, from the day they arrive, how their own power is developed and nurtured. From each conversation with a staff member to how they share information and feelings with each other, they become consciously aware of how they affect themselves and others. From this, they practice interactions with each other and staff and when they go out into the community.

Program Successes/Impact:

Successfully transferring First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women to BSWH from Correctional Services Canada institutions and assisting them to make different choices after their release, reducing violence and increasing community safety.

Key Lesson/Challenge:

Waiting for Security Reclassification of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women in Correctional Services Canada institutions.

Program in operation since:

2010.

Program:

Ongoing.