On Nov. 8-9, Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS) Gladue Program travelled to Ottawa for an in-person training session and retreat.
The fall training theme focused on Culturally Relevant Recommendations as Alternatives to Incarceration and the Importance of Healing, and Intergenerational Wellness.
When preparing Gladue Letters, and Gladue Reports, Gladue Caseworkers and Gladue Writers canvass alternatives to incarceration for the person they are assisting. The goal of the training, and retreat, was to better understand how important and fulfilling culturally appropriate programs and services are for the people we work with as well as ourselves.
For Indigenous people, culture is the essence of who we are. Our culture is tied intimately to who we belong to, where we come from and how we relate to others. We inherit our cultural identity through our families, our traditions, and ceremonies. For some Indigenous people, cultural identity and development have been a lifelong journey. For others, it is a new path to be explored. Regardless of where we are in our travels, we know that culture has a profound impact on our future.
By focusing on culturally relevant programs and services, the Gladue Program can revitalize traditions, ceremonies, and customs that have been undervalued in many aspects of our lives. Cultural safety is a process where we can make spaces, services, and organizations safe, and equitable for Indigenous people.
During the training, emphasis was given to Building Trust, and Breaking Down Barriers with the people we work with. Ensuring that culture is at the forefront of our working relationships will not only create a more trusting dynamic, it will also ensure that our culture, ceremonies, and customs are valued as they should be.
Chantell Barker, ALS Executive Director, also attended the Gladue Program training session on Nov. 8. During that session, Chantell had the Gladue Team participate in an exercise regarding Intergenerational Impacts and Breaking Cycles. Exploring historical and colonial harm, and translating that to present-day challenges, allowed the Gladue Team an opportunity to come to a better understanding of the challenges clients may face, and the vicarious trauma we adopt through the work we do.
Inevitably, by writing Gladue Letters, and Gladue Reports, we end up carrying some of the weight of the experiences that are shared by our clients. The Nov. 9 retreat to Madahoki Farm, located on 164 acres in Ottawa’s greenbelt, offered staff the opportunity to reconnect to the land and participate in workshops throughout the day. We focused on personal healing and wellness, while appreciating the impact of these types of activities on healing and growth for clients navigating the justice system.
Amanda General
Senior Manager, Gladue Program