Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm doing my Member's statement on young men in the justice systems.
Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about Indigenous young men and adults within our correctional facilities and in the justice system. Mr. Speaker, we know people are not born convicted criminals. They become this way. Before colonizations, Indigenous people organized themselves equally. Everyone shared. People took care of one another. No one was viewed better than others. This is what I am concerned about for behind bars. How are they being taken care of?
Mr. Speaker, Indigenous people have been experiencing racism, trauma, and abuse for hundreds of years. According to the NWT Native Women's Association Journey to Healing says, quote, "Many of our elders were taught to hold their pain inside. We recognize this pain needs to come out so people can learn to carry their trauma in a healthy way."
We know that people need to learn to heal. This is something we need to teach each other.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize our inmate population are low and while that is positive, I am concerned that locking up our young Indigenous boys, our future generations, is not going to help them heal their problems.
I am concerned about the programming and case management in place within the correctional facilities. Has the department seen success from their rehabilitation programs? I am concerned, Mr. Speaker, that when Indigenous young men or adults are locked up in our correction facilities that they are not being provided enough healing support to make meaningful change in their life.
I am also concerned, Mr. Speaker, that there is a lack of traumainformed outreach services. What is the expectation for a probation officer? Do probation officer and court workers have the training, resources, and capacity to provide traumainformed service delivery?
Mr. Speaker, in the news, we see that the population of the jails has reduced, which is positive, but I am concerned if people are filling up other programs, like probation services, without the right support in place to help them learn to heal. I will have questions for the Minister of Justice. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Members' statements. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
