Aboriginal Offenders and the Need for Leadership

In my work with Aboriginal offenders in Canada's federal prisons, I have been involved in the area of substance abuse programming for the past ten years. This has been an incredible learning journey. I'm of the opinion that if one wants to be serious about professional and personal development, being engaged in this type of adventure provides a wonderful arena to "move forward". I say that with all honesty. Yes, there's a bit of "scar tissue" but its worth the ride. For a number of years I wouldn't go near the places. To be honest, they scared me. It stopped scaring me when I got comfortable with me. That's a mouthful.

For the past five years the work has even been more interesting. Here I have worked with a Native Elder--his name is Winston Taylor--and we have been for the most part fully engaged in delivering a High-Intensity Substance Abuse program for Aboriginal male offenders in a number of federal institutions in the Ontario Region, including Canada's infamous Kingston Penitentiary. The program, call AOSAP (Aboriginal Offenders Substance Abuse Program), is delivered fully within the context of Aboriginal culture, mostly because this is what the men are seeking and are most motivated towards and mostly because the Elder is driving it. Winston, I tell everyone that is involved, is the boss. Elders, especially Winston, don't like to be bosses but in this case he is comfortable in knowing that he has a say in program especially when it comes to cultural and spiritual needs.

We deliver the program totally on "the land", inside of a tepee and in all kinds of weather. No electricity, no running water, no A/C, no nice tables and chairs--just the weather and the elements. In here we deal with traumas, anger, the full range of challenges that go from ADHD, FASD, OCD and the like. In here we sometimes face anger and rage and incredible fear bottled up, in some, for years on end. But in here, as well, we have the Elder, the teachings, the "medicines", the drum, the pipe, and most of all, the Sweat Lodge.

Providing guidance, leadership, and trying to keep the sense of purpose in this type of environment can be a challenge but it is also very satisfying. Aboriginal male offenders are characterized, as a sector of all federal male offenders, by the high rate of substance abuse and from that, the strong links to violence. A good background on the AOSAP can be found in Dave Varis' backgrounder Development of an Aboriginal Offender Substance Abuse Program.

If there is an area that needs Aboriginal leadership and more public awareness it is in this area: Aboriginal offenders.

[Note: Picture above is from Correctional Service of Canada's LET'S TALK, Vol 29, No 4. Winston is standing at far right in middle row (black shirt) and yours truly is kneeling at far right in front row.]