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
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.
To order merchandise, fill out your order request in out contact form specifying quantities and sizing. One of our members will contact you for payment and shipping details.
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 either our canadahelps.org or our PayPal button or payment can be made 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 (New):
GLOBAL NEWS EXCLUSIVE
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
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.'
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.
EVENTS (Past)
Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society - Workshop Teepee
2nd IRSS Legacy Celebration
Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto
Thunder Woman Healing Lodge's First Community Engagement
April 2015 - Native Canadian Centre of Toronto
TWHLS Engagement April 2015
TWHLS Engagement April 2015
TWHLS Engagement April 2015
TWHLS Engagement April 2015
Patti Pettigrew, TWHLS Board Member
TWHLS Engagement April 2015
TWHLS Engagement April 2015
TWHLS Engagement April 2015
TWHLS Engagement April 2015
TWHLS Engagement April 2015
TWHLS Engagement April 2015
TWHLS Engagement April 2015
TWHLS Engagement April 2015
TWHLS Engagement April 2015
12 - 14
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photos by Ryan Walsh
EVENTS (New!)
July 29-30, 2019
Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society will be returning to the Indian Residential School Survivor (IRSS) Legacy Celebration along with its workshop teepee.
Last year was such a success with our workshops and drumming sessions, held inside and outside of our teepee, that we gladly accepted the invitation to return this year. The previous event was held in October 2018 and a lot of school groups came by to visit us. With this year's summer celebration, we are expecting a lot of local community members, tourists and youth from camps, Guide and Scout groups. Everyone is welcome!
For up-to-date info on program and workshop schedules please visit the event site at:
School group next to Thunder Woman teepee
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
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