Beading the Wounds: The Healing Power of Traditional Arts and Ceremony in Indigenous Men’s Rehabilitation
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Authors
Courtoreille-Paul, Maxine
Issue Date
2025-09-12
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
Indigenous healing , recidivism , intergenerational trauma , traditional arts , ceremony , identity restoration , relational accountability , Cree worldview , Nehiyaw Iskwew (a Cree woman) , cultural reconnection , embodied healing , trauma-informed care , land-based practices
Alternative Title
Abstract
This capstone investigates how traditional Indigenous arts and ceremonial practices function as healing interventions for incarcerated Indigenous men. Drawing from narrative inquiry and grounded in Indigenous epistemologies, the research reviews literature, federal evaluations, and community-based reports to examine the impacts of culture-based programming within correctional settings. It explores how colonial systems such as residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and carceral institutions have disrupted Indigenous identities, attachment systems, and wahkotowin (a Cree term meaning “kinship” or “relatedness”) networks across generations.
The research shows that traditional practices, such as beadwork, drum-making, sweat lodges, and Elder-led teachings, support emotional regulation, strengthen cultural identity, and contribute to relational healing. Arts and ceremonies are understood not as supplementary, but as central to restoring balance and well-being. Culturally grounded programs show potential to reduce recidivism, increase self-awareness, and promote community reintegration.
The analysis points out key themes including historical trauma, disrupted attachment, cultural disconnection, and the role of arts and ceremony in identity restoration. It also identifies barriers such as underfunding, limited access, and misaligned evaluation frameworks. Recommendations include expanded investment in Indigenous-led correctional programming, incorporation of land-based healing and cultural mentorship, and shifts in policy to recognize Indigenous knowledge as foundational to justice and rehabilitation. This research examines the need for Indigenous-centered justice approaches that center culture as both prevention and healing.
Description
Citation
Publisher
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
openAccess
openAccess