Prisons Inside/Out

Indigenous peoples are overrepresented in Canada’s federal correctional system, and many incarcerated individuals have had limited or no prior connection to their Indigenous culture, history, or identity. In part two of our exploration of cultural reconnection in Indigenous corrections, we look at how cultural identity and community support are key to the safe and successful reintegration of Indigenous offenders.

In this episode, we hear from Elder Josephine Buffalo, who shares her perspective on the importance of preserving Indigenous culture and the unique role Elders play in supporting incarcerated individuals. We also hear from Julia, Operations Manager at Buffalo Sage Wellness House, who explains how Section 81 healing lodges provide culturally grounded support through supervised housing, traditional teachings, and reintegration programs for Indigenous offenders.

In this episode, we meet CSC’s hard-working health professionals who take us behind the scenes to give us a glimpse into what it’s like to provide health services to inmates in federal prisons across the country.

CSC is mandated by law to provide essential health care to inmates, which we know in turn contributes to safer prisons for our staff and safer communities for the public. Go behind the scenes with our health professionals who are working hard to make a difference and keep everyone safe every day.

In 2002, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that denying inmates the right to vote was a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In this episode, we will hear from the offender who challenged the law and made voting possible for all federally incarcerated people and from Correctional Service Canada (CSC) staff on how voting works in a federal prison.

Public safety is a 24/7 responsibility, especially for the team at Correctional Service Canada’s (CSC) National Monitoring Centre (NMC). As the eyes and ears of CSC, especially during the critical after-hours, the NMC plays a vital role in maintaining public safety, monitoring offenders on various types of releases in the community to keep Canadians safe. 

In this episode, we speak with Daniel Kletke, a supervisor at the NMC, to learn how he and his team manage this crucial and dynamic responsibility.

"I've found so many positive things, and even now I'm learning so much more about myself than I did three years ago when I when I met with the offender."

In part two of this episode, we continue Angie's story. This time, we hear from the offender who sat across from her in a face-to-face meeting through the Restorative Opportunities program. Later, Angie returns to reflect on that conversation and share her final thoughts on what the program has meant to her healing journey.
 
Episode resources: 

• Information for victims
• Resources for victims
• Restorative Opportunities Program (victim-offender mediation)
• 20 years of Restorative Opportunities 

Have you ever wondered what mealtime looks like in prison? Feeding thousands of inmates in a controlled environment requires careful coordination and planning on a massive scale.

In this episode of Prisons Inside / Out, we visit Drumheller Institution in Alberta to meet the dedicated CSC staff making it happen each and every day.

“I told him that I forgave him for who he was, not for what he took from me, that was very important that I worded it that way.”

In this episode, we share Angie’s story, in her own words. After her brother was murdered, Angie began her healing journey with the support of a Restorative Opportunities (RO) program mediator.

Episode resources: 

• Information for victims
• Resources for victims
• Restorative Opportunities Program (victim-offender mediation)
• 20 years of Restorative Opportunities 

“To me, that’s a piece that is so important when we’re talking about reintegration, because part of reintegration is reconnection.”

On this episode of Prisons Inside / Out, we explore how Indigenous inmates can discover or reconnect with their cultural roots while incarcerated. We speak with an inmate on their journey of cultural revitalization, and Teddi Saddleback, the acting Executive Director of Pê Sâkâstêw Centre in Mâskwâcîs, Alberta. Listen in as they share how traditional Indigenous practices are helping to shape paths of rehabilitation and transformation within the correctional system. 

“I think that being a parole officer is about building rapport and building trust, and that can be a very big challenge. But it’s a challenge that I happily take on because I feel that it is my greatest impact that I can have as a parole officer.”

Parole officers work tirelessly every day to keep Canadians and their communities safe, always prioritizing public and victim safety. In the latest episode of Prisons Inside / Out, meet Dalila, one of CSC’s dedicated parole officers. Tune in and listen as they share real stories form their work on the front lines.

Preventing and reducing the number of drugs, cellphones, and other unauthorized items in correctional institutions is a priority for the Correctional Service of Canada. In this episode, we hear from two staff members who help do just that. Tune in to listen to our conversation with Detector Dog Handler, Todd, and Security Intelligence Officer, Christian, to learn more about how they help keep our prisons safe.

Additional information: 

• Correctional Service Canada's Dog Detector Program
• Institutional security
• National list of offender personal property