Expression of interest (EOI): elders and elder helpers for correctional service of canada institutions in the prairies region

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI): ELDERS AND ELDER HELPERS FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICE OF CANADA INSTITUTIONS IN THE PRAIRIES REGION

PURPOSE OF THE EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is asking Elders and Elder Helpers interested in providing Indigenous cultural support and guidance to offenders to contact the CSC Representative identified below.

BACKGROUND:

CSC has a legal obligation to provide Indigenous offenders with programs and reintegration support that respect Indigenous culture and values. Elders and Elder Helpers provide services under contract to CSC to assist Indigenous offenders in their traditional healing journey, to develop an understanding of traditional Indigenous culture through teachings, guidance, counselling.

CSC is committed to providing a variety of rehabilitation programs and opportunities to Indigenous offenders. Elders and Elder Helpers expose individuals and groups of offenders to traditional Indigenous ways of life, based on their own teachings, counselling and traditional ceremonies and practices to promote ongoing healing and balance, and increase the likelihood of successful reintegration.

CSC relies on support from First Nation communities, Metis communities, Inuit communities and Indigenous organizations to provide cultural immersion and practices to Indigenous offenders that CSC cannot offer or manage.

The Canadian Federal Correctional environment presents challenges in trying to offer Indigenous support and services within institutions due to the constraints of various security levels, the related level of controlled movement of offenders, and other security requirements. CSC has developed policy and guidelines to better support cultural practices and ceremonies.

REQUIREMENTS:

CSC respects the cultural and traditions of Indigenous communities and strives to treat Elders and Elder Helpers with the utmost respect.

Any Elder or Elder Helper interested in providing services to indigenous offenders must be recognized by their Indigenous community as having the knowledge and understanding of the community’s traditional culture, including their ceremonies, protocols, teachings and healing practices, according to their beliefs and social traditions.

Knowledge and wisdom are the essential and defining traits Elders and Elder Helpers achieve by following a traditional way of life consistent with the teachings of their community’s Elders and healers over a significant period. Elders and Elder Helpers must be recognized as such by Indigenous communities, other Elders and their teachers.

The tasks Elders within CSC typically perform include counselling, teachings, ceremonies and activities for individuals and groups such as:

- Providing guidance and teachings through group sessions (circles) and individual discussions with offenders in the institution.
- Conducting spiritual services and various traditional ceremonies based on each Elder’s teachings.
- Assisting offenders following a healing path in support of their correctional plan.
- Escorting offenders on Escorted Temporary Absences (ETAs) for ceremonial and other spiritual purposes as requested and mutually agreed upon.
- Providing advice and information to staff and management, locally, regionally and nationally on issues of Indigenous spirituality, cultural practices, ceremonies, ceremonial objects, traditional practices and protocols, traditional medicine or sacred grounds within the institution. This includes the collection and storage of ceremonial objects and traditional and ceremonial medicines.
- Introducing institutional staff to various elements of traditional spirituality as deemed appropriate based on the Elder’s teachings.
- Participating in case conferences as requested and providing verbal comments to the offender’s Case Management Team regarding the offender’s participation in a healing path and cultural involvement.

Elder Helpers within CSC support and assist Elders to facilitate delivery of services and provide support, such as:

- Ensuring offenders and staff follow appropriate protocols when approaching the Elder
- Ensuring there are adequate supplies of traditional and ceremonial items, materials and medicines for ceremony purposes as requested by the Elder
- Coordinating and providing supervision of offenders during ceremonies and assistance at the Elder’s request. Providing performance of ceremonies in the Elder’s absence. This also includes scheduling of ceremonies and providing notification of participants to Elders and staff as required.
- Conducting group discussions and teachings, with the Elder’s agreement, in the identification and proper use of ceremonial objects to offenders and staff.
- Assisting the Elder in preparing written and verbal reports to support case management teams and participating in staff meetings.
- Providing counselling services as directed when the Elder is unavailable.
- Providing cu