ABORIGINAL HOLISTIC MODEL
Denica Dione Patterson
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CANADA:
• Absence of art therapy or quality
art programs within prisons
• Sporadic programming
• Healing lodges
• Aboriginal values,
traditions and beliefs
• Justice and reconciliation
• Holistic and spiritual
• Art activism
(Correctional Service Canada Healing Lodges; Lu & Yuen, 2012; Archibald, 2012)
“creative arts are seen as a part of a larger holistic model of
healing that connects people to culture, spirituality, and
identity” (p.193)
“art therapy can be used as a tool for social change when it
can be flexible, self-critical, and open to integrating the host
community’s culture, ideals, structure, and concepts” (p.193)
(Lu & Yuen, 2012)
“The techniques of art therapy are
based on the knowledge that
every individual, whether trained
or untrained in art, has a latent
capacity to project his inner
conflicts into visual form” (p.12)
“Historically, Indigenous societies
throughout the world have used
visual arts, dance, music,
dramatic re-enactment, and story
telling in everyday life as well as
in celebrations, governance,
rituals, and healing ceremonies”
(p.55)
(Archibald, 2012)
HOLISTIC:
Indigenous Conceptions of the World and Humanity:
• Holistic
• Relational, interconnectedness
Eurocentric Conceptions of the World & Humanity
• Scientific
• Reductionist, independence
(Montgomery, 2014)
HUMAN NEEDS:
Emotions
Harmonious relationships
Identity
Recognition/belonging
Capacities for creative, rational, logical
and intellectual functioning
Choice of thoughts and attitudes for
moral and ethical issues
Desires for love, justice, unity and peace
(Loiselle and Lauretta, 2006)
INDIGENOUS HOLISTIC PHILOSOPHY:
Physical/Material
Emotional/Relational
Mental/Intellectual
Spiritual/Cultural
SEEKS TO:
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Promote health and wellness
Interconnectedness, balance and harmony to reach full potential
If one part is effected, so are the rest
Enhance awareness and understanding of self, restoring
relationships and well-being
Awaken individual
Allow for acknowledgement and acceptance for behaviour
Accountability to family, community and society
Create self-discipline
Motivation and stimulation
Change negative and destructive attitudes, thinking, self-talk
and behaviours
Heal individuals, groups and communities
(Loiselle and Lauretta, 2006; Wenger-Nabigon, 2010)
APPROACH:
• Person-in-environment and Self-inrelation…to self, others, community
• Individuals
• Families
• Communities
• Pro-active
• Empowering
• View life, self-reflection
• NOT for crisis, NOT ‘quick fix’
(Loiselle and Lauretta, 2006; Wenger-Nabigon, 2010)
RELATION TO SPAN:
SPAN believes:
“That artists offer a vital opportunity to support learning,
well being and self–expression to Scotland’s offenders.”
“That a connected arts community can strengthen the
quality and impact of the artist placed in a criminal justice
context.”
(http://www.scottishprisonarts.net)
WHO SPAN WORKS WITH
Artists
(Mesosystem)
Scottish Prison
(Exosystem)
Learning Centres
(Exosystem)
Offenders
(Microsystem)
Families
(Mesosystem)
Partner Agencies
(Exosystem)
The Scottish Arts Scene
(Macrosystem)
RELATION TO SPS – HOLISTIC:
“Our justice system must therefore enable
rehabilitation as well as punishment…this requires a
holistic, joined-up approach that reaches out from
justice into areas such as health, housing and
education.” (p.2)
“a more holistic approach is required to develop the
motivation and hope required to move on from
offending” (p. 84)
Operating Task: “Helping to protect the public and
reduce reoffending through the delivery of safe and
secure custodial services that empower offenders to
take responsibility and fulfill their potential.” (p. 2)
Care: “Supporting wellbeing and treating with
respect and humanity all in our care.” (p. 2)
(SPS, 2013)
RELATION TO SPS – HOLISTIC COMMUNITY:
“more holistic range of activities designed to
build upon strengths, potential and social
networks as well as addressing risks and
needs” (p. 88)
“understanding the relationships between
the community, the prison and the
individual and the necessary permeability
required of a whole system and asset-cased
approach to collaboration that puts the
offender at the centre of its efforts.” (p. 168)
person-centered model, strengthen
family and social ties (p.169)
(SPS, 2013)
References:
Archibald, L. (2012). Dancing, Singing, Painting, and Speaking the Healing Story:
Healing through Creative Arts. The Aboriginal Healing Foundation Research Series. (1101). Ottawa, ON: Aboriginal Healing Foundation.
Correctional Service Canada Healing Lodges. (n.d.). Retrieved January 15, 2016, from
http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/aboriginal/002003-2000-eng.shtml
Lu, L., Yuen, F. (2012). Journey women: Art therapy in a decolonization framework of
practice. Elsevier Journal: The Arts In Psychotherapy, 39, 192-200. doi: 10.1016
Montgomery, H. M. (2014). Colliding Worldviews [Powerpoint Slides].
Scottish Prison Service. (November 2013). Unlocking potential: Transforming lives:
Summary report of the Scottish prison service organizational review.
SPAN. (2016). What SPAN believes, Who we work with. Retrieved January 14, 2016, from
http://www.scottishprisonarts.net
Wenger-Nabigon, A. (2010). The Cree medicine wheel as organizing paradigm of theories
of human development. Laurentian University Press: Native Social Work Journal: 7, 139161.