Kenora jail holds shocking number of Aboriginal women

CBC News has learned that Aboriginal women make up, on average, more than 90 per cent of female inmates at the Kenora jail.

The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services said the proportion of Aboriginal inmates fluctuates on a daily basis. Last year, 93 per cent of female admissions to the facility were Aboriginal women. Based on statistics, that's more than four times their representation in the general population in the region.

A womens advocate in Kenora said those numbers are "shocking and disturbing."

"Youd be hard pressed to find one [Aboriginal woman in jail in Kenora] who doesnt have a history of abuse and trauma in her life," said Vanessa Lucky, the Aboriginal Victim and Family Liaison with the Ontario Native Womens Association.

"Those factors all contribute to those interactions with the legal system that ultimately lead to incarceration."

Numbers on the rise

The number of Aboriginal women in jail is on the rise across Canada accordingto a recent report.

In Kenora, it has increased 10 per cent over the past ten years.

Lucky said Aboriginal women in Kenora need more culturally appropriate services, both inside and outside the jail, in order to break a cycle of trauma, abuse, and poverty in their lives.

"When were dealing with this level of historical trauma and violence, were not necessarily dealing with people who need to be incarcerated," Lucky said. "They need help. They need services."