Women will learn to walk in balance. A person who walks in balance
does not create disharmony for others or their environment.

About:

A Community-driven project raised out of concern and recognition of the need to break the cycle and support the healing, rehabilitation and meaningful re-integration of Aboriginal women offenders.

ABORIGINAL ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION AND

ABORIGINAL PAROLE SUPERVISION: SECTIONS 81

THE PURPOSE OF THE LODGE WILL BE TO SUPPORT ABORIGINAL WOMEN OFFENDERS TO DISCOVER A DIFFERENT WAY OF LIFE.

Thunder Woman Healing Lodge

Vision:

Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society will promote and provide services for First Nation, Inuit, and Metis Women to focus on their journey to wholeness and balance.

Mission:

To provide First Nation, Inuit, and Metis women a place in the Greater Toronto Area to heal and reclaim positive cultural identity, rehabilitation and wellness.

Mandate:

To establish a Healing Lodge for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis women who are in conflict with the law, and for those who have survived intergenerational trauma. To provide cultural support, traditional knowledge and resources, for the advancement of wholeness and balance. To empower First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Women to take their honoured place within their community and culture.

Thunder Woman Healing by artist Mike Ormsby (W’ DAE B’ WAE  Anishinaabe name meaning 'he or she telling the truth’). The logo/painting incorporates a stylized Thunderbird with a female figure holding up an eagle feather in prayer. The image symbolizes both the name of the lodge and the healing that can happen through Indigenous culture and traditions.

Thunder Woman Healing Lodge - Video

In order of Appearance:  Krysta Williams, Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator - Native Youth Sexual Health Network, Toronto Pamela Hart, Program Manager - Native Men's Residentce, Toronto, Joanne Dallair, Traditional Healer - Healing Works, Toronto, Patti Pettigrew, Aboriginal Legal Services, Toronto

Thunder Woman Healing Lodge - Video

Jonathan Rudin, Program Director -  Aboriginal Legal Services, Toronto

"There's a real need for a healing lodge for women in Toronto."

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board members Pamela Hart (left) and Patti Pettigrew (second to left), photographed with Board Advisor Andrea Chrisjohn (third from left) and visitor The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Mandate Letter (right)

Additional Board members (not pictured above): Mandy Mack, Brittany Wylie and Jose Cacho

CONTACT US

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STORE

Support the Centre through the purchase of one of our merchandise/gift items.  Adorned by the Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society logo, designed by Anishinaabe artist Mike Ormsby, all proceeds from our merchandise go towards programming.

THUNDER WOMAN T-SHIRT

Available in women's and men's cuts . These fashionable T's are great for sports, lounging, cultural events and joining in social justice gatherings.

Women's T-Shirts are $15.00 ea + shipping. Available in M, X and XL. Please specify size when ordering

Men's T-Shirts are $20.00 ea + shipping. Available in L and XL. Please specify size when ordering

THUNDER WOMAN MUG

A classic mug ideal for enjoying a cup of Mountain Thunder coffee or Morning Thunder tea.

Mugs are $15.00 ea + shipping

THUNDER WOMAN TOTE

A simple yet stylish tote, perfect for weekend errands, carrying school books or work items.

Totes are $15.00 ea + shipping

Charitable donations to Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society can be made online by clicking our PayPal button or by mail by sending a cheque to:

Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society
c/o Aboriginal Legal Services
211 Yonge Street, Suite 500
Toronto ON M5B 1M4

Make Cheques Payable to: Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society Inc.

DONATE:

ARTICLES          NEWS            EVENTS

        Past  I  New                                                 News                                                 Past  I  New

ARTICLES (New):

Global National
The Wednesday, January 9, 2019 edition of Global National with Dawna Friesen

Indigenous advocates question why
non-Indigenous offenders are serving time in healing lodges.

https://globalnews.ca/video/4833024/global-national-jan-9-4

NOTE: If the video does not play in the browser window, please go to the Global News link. The video is approximately 3/4 the way into the news

segment.

ARTICLES (Past):

Laini Lascelle, a spiritual advisor at Grand Valley Institution for Women, would like to see more supports available for Indigenous women when they leave prison. (Melanie Ferrier/CBC)

As Indigenous women inmate numbers rise, more supports needed after release Number of Indigenous women in federal prisons has increased by 60
per cent in a decade

Melanie Ferrier · CBC News  November 17, 2017

'I wish that we had more resources in all of those different areas, more workers that were specifically trained with incarcerated people.'

 Laini Lascelles

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/as-indigenous-women-inmate-numbers-rise-more-supports-needed-after-release-1.4405664

ARTICLES (Past):

Image: Connor Tarter/flickr)

Women in poverty are falling into debtors' prison, reports Elizabeth Fry Society

Penney Kome · rabble.ca  February 14, 2017

'Women are going to jail in Canada, especially Indigenous women, because they are unable to pay fines for small infractions.'

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/penney-kome/2017/02/women-poverty-are-falling-debtors-prison-reports-elizabeth-fry-so

NEWS:


Follow Thunder Woman Haling Lodge Society (TWHLS) on Facebook.

We will be posting notes and links on Aboriginal women in the justice system specifically as well other information regarding our community in general.

We will look to highlight positive stories, changes in legislation and advances in our own programming but we will also share and report on the realities of how our community has been affected by a system of law which has only recently begun to acknowledge the importance of our traditions and our ways of healing.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLRF7l35EqM&feature=share

EVENTS (Past) :

Thunder Woman Healing Lodge's First Community Engagement

April 2015 - Native Canadian Centre of Toronto

photos by Ryan Walsh

EVENT (Past)

Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society

ALMOST HOME: INDIGENOUS JUSTICE INITIATIVE

TWHLS will be holding an evening with three dynamic speakers, a video presentation, traditional food and refreshments

November 6, 2018 :

From 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto

Join the event on Facebook

Claire Carefoot - Keynote Speaker

Claire has over 20 years of service working in the area of Indigenous Justice and Healing.

In 1993 Claire served as a full time member of the National Parole Board. In 2005 she was the Director of the Stan Daniels Healing Centre, a Section 81 for Indigenous Men. In 2011 she founded the Buffalo Sage Wellness House for Indigenous women. Buffalo Sage Wellness House is the first section 81 for women in Canada.

Claire received a Woman of Vision Award from the city of Edmonton in 2013. After a brief retirement Claire returned as the Director of Corrections for Native Counseling Services of Alberta, and the Executive Director of Buffalo Sage Wellness House. In November 2017 the expansion from a 16 bed facility to a 28 bed facility was completed.

Claire is currently serving on the Parole Board of Canada Chairpersons Indigenous Circle

Claire has been married fifty- three years. She raised three sons and has eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Thunder Woman Healing Lodge

Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society
c/o Aboriginal Legal Services
211 Yonge Street, Suite 500
Toronto ON M5B 1M4

TWHLS  © 2019