First Nations calling for government to follow through on healing lodge expansion – aptnnews
Jun 26, 2026
Several First Nations organizations are calling on the federal government to follow a recommendation from the United Nations to expand Indigenous-led healing lodge services for incarcerated people in Canada.
“As you are no doubt aware, United Nations bodies rarely identify specific States unless concerns are especially serious,” stated a joint letter from organizations including the BC First Nations Justice Council and the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations.
On April 21, the UN permanent forum called on Canada to “substantially expand alternatives to detention, including community-based sentencing, restorative justice programmes and adequately funded, independently operated Indigenous healing lodges, ensuring that such alternatives are resourced at parity with conventional custodial institutions.”
