First Light Releases Legal Guide on Indigenous Rights in Provincial Corrections System

First Light released a new legal guide on Tuesday that argues Indigenous people in provincial custody are likely being denied legal rights to access culturally appropriate programming and services.

The publication, Claiming Our Rights, was developed for Indigenous governments and organizations seeking to advance Indigenous rights within Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial corrections system. A companion booklet, Know Your Rights, was also released to help current and former Indigenous inmates better understand their legal rights and provide informed instructions to legal representatives.

Indigenous people accounts for more than 40 per cent of inmates in the province and are incarcerated at a rate eight times higher than non-Indigenous people.

The report also identified limited access to Indigenous cultural programming, low awareness and use of Gladue Reports, and high levels of housing insecurity among inmates preparing for release.

First Light President and CEO Stacey Howse said access to culturally appropriate supports is a legal obligation rather than an optional service.

"Providing access to culturally appropriate supports for Indigenous people in provincial custody is not a nice-to-have," Howse said in a statement. "We believe the Province has legal obligations under the Correctional Services Act, human rights legislation, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to ensure these services are available."

Howse said the issue is tied to dignity, rehabilitation, and the rights of Indigenous people in custody.