Parole board must be more sensitive to Natives

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The director of the National Parole Board of Canada says he wants the organization to become more sensitive to Natives in order to make parole more accessible to them.

Fred Gibson says he wants members of the board to "sensitize themselves to the realities of Native culture." Gibson says he also wants to see the community more involved in understanding Natives.

"Canadians have to work together to understands Natives and to support the reality of integration."

In a telephone interview from Ottawa, Gibson said "it would be in everyone's interest to make the integration process smoother."

Ultimately, Gibson says he wants the parole board to establish volunteer parole officers.

"They work in the community providing support and supervision making it easier to release Natives to the community."

He says the concept would work best in remote ares across the country.

Rehabilitative programs geared towards Natives, says Gibson, will help them adapt once they are back in society.

"I'd like to see more sweat lodges and pipe ceremonies in prisons all across the country."

Currently, says Gibson, rehabilitation programs for Natives are more prevalent in Western Canada.

But a researcher with Native Counseling Services of Alberta in Edmonton says although he is encouraged by Gibson remarks he wants more energy focused on "keeping Natives out of jail on the first place."

Randy Slone says the criminal justice system must concentrate on preventive measures which will reduce the number of Natives in prison.

Native people make up less than 5 per cent of Alberta's population, yet make up about 30 per cent of the province's inmate population.