Ensure the availability of Indigenous cultural programming within the corrections system.

First Light conducts research on Indigenous over-incarceration

In November 2025, First Light conducted research on the demographics of adult correctional facilities in Newfoundland Labrador. The findings of this study were published in the report

which received significant media and public attention. The research found that 43% of incarcerated individuals in the province were Indigenous. Among women inmates, the rate was even higher at 53%.

On July 7 2026, First Light released two legal guides to support Indigenous individuals who have intersections with the criminal justice system to access their rights to cultural programming and to have their Gladue factors considered in court. The more comprehensive guide, , is intended for Indigenous governments and organizations seeking to advance Indigenous rights within the provincial corrections system. Its companion booklet, , is written for current and former Indigenous inmates to help them understand their legal rights and provide more fully informed instructions to their legal representatives. Legal Aid NL has distributed copies of these guides to its lawyers across the province.

Department of Justice and Public Safety commits interim funding to provide cultural programming in some institutions

On July 30 2026, the Department of Justice and Public Safety announced $270,000 in interim funding to maintain the availability of Indigenous cultural programming at the Labrador Correctional Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and expand delivery of similar programming to the West Coast Correctional Centre in Stephenville and the Bishop’s Falls Correctional Centre. While this is a promising development, long-term, sustainable funding agreements must be established to ensure that cultural programming is consistently available in all institutions across the province.

At the time of writing, negotiations with the Department of Justice and Public Safety are ongoing to restore cultural programming for Indigenous inmates at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s and the Clarenville Correctional Centre. First Light previously delivered programming at both institutions for a number of years but declined to renew service agreements in 2025 because of chronic underfunding.

For the Department of Justice and Public Safety (JPS):

• Maintain appropriate funding levels to ensure the continuity of programming at the Labrador Correctional Centre.
• Allocate funding and commit to a multiyear service agreement to sustain the cultural programming supported by interim funding at the West Coast Correctional Centre and the Bishop’s Falls Correctional Centre.
• Allocate funding and commit to a multiyear agreement to restore cultural programming at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary and the Clarenville Correctional Centre.
• Allocate funding and commit to a multiyear agreement to establish cultural programming at the Youth Secure Custody facility in Whitbourne.