First Light Welcomes Progress on Indigenous Cultural Programming in Corrections; More Work Needed to Achieve Equity

St. John’s, NL – First Light welcomes yesterday’s announcement by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to expand Indigenous cultural programming and supports within the provincial correctional system. The announcement represents meaningful progress toward equitable access for Indigenous people in custody. The Province’s statement also rightly recognizes that important work remains to establish a province-wide approach across all five adult correctional facilities.

First Light believes Indigenous governments and organizations are best positioned to lead the delivery of culturally grounded programming within the communities and regions they serve. We are pleased to see continued support for Nunatsiavut Government and Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation to provide services in Labrador, alongside a new agreement with the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network to begin delivering programming in Stephenville and Bishop’s Falls.

Her Majesty’s Penitentiary and the Clarenville Correctional Centre, however, remain without Indigenous cultural programming. Together, these facilities house nearly two-thirds of all Indigenous people in provincial custody, including every woman and gender-diverse person. Ensuring sustainable programming at these two institutions is essential to achieving equitable access across the provincial correctional system.

For many years, First Light delivered regular Indigenous cultural programming and supports at both Her Majesty’s Penitentiary and the Clarenville Correctional Centre. Those services were suspended in May 2025 because chronic underfunding had made continued delivery unsustainable. First Light believes Indigenous cultural programming is most effective when it is supported through stable, sustainable partnerships that enable Indigenous organizations to deliver services consistently over time.

We remain committed to working collaboratively with government and Indigenous partners to achieve fully equitable access to Indigenous cultural programming and supports across Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial correctional system. We urge the Province to follow through on its stated commitment to continue this work. First Light stands ready to help ensure that every Indigenous person in provincial custody has access to culturally grounded programming and supports, regardless of where they are incarcerated.

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