Onashowewin and the Promise of Aboriginal Diversionary Programs

This article focuses on the use of Indigenous diversionary programming by Onashowewin, an Indigenous non-profit organization in Winnipeg. An analysis of 100 case files finds a recidivism rate of 30%. That is a very positive outcome, especially when compared to numerous studies that have found high recidivism rates for Indigenous offenders. What is particularly encouraging is the possibility that programs like Onashowewin can lead Indigenous persons to more positive lifestyles after their earliest contacts with the justice system, and thereby avert patterns of reoffending that frequently lead to incarceration in federal penitentiaries. Onashowewin also incorporates Indigenous cultures and spirituality into its programming. Part of Onashowewin's promise is the ability to contribute to cultural revitalization, even if limited in scale. Onashowewin, and other programs like it, can also provide a foundation upon which Indigenous self- determination can eventually be built.