Welcome

White Buffalo Road Healing Lodge

PREVENTATIVE • TRANSFORMATIVE • RESTORATIVE

“When in your heart you believe in yourself you carry yourself differently, and make a different turn at a crossroad. That’s how things change.“

Dawn-Marie Wemigwans
Board Member

White Buffalo Road Healing Lodge Inc. is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in 2005 and is the vision of Vince Pawis Sr. the founder and current Executive Director.

Vince received the Minister’s Award for Exceptional Achievement in Corrections, was appointed to the Order of Ontario for his contributions to law and culture, and was awarded the Governor General of Canada Meritorious Service Medal for restoring pride and self-confidence in the community by promoting positive lifestyle changes of its members through connection with cultural heritage.

The Justice System

Led by our network of female and male Indigenous Native Inmate Liaison Officers across Ontario, White Buffalo Road Healing Lodge provides traditional teachings for healing and reconnection through Indigenous youth-at-risk programs, Elder Assisted Parole Circle Hearings, and after-care reintegration programs through cultural and spiritual teachings

• Preventative: We keep youth at risk from entering the criminal justice system, using culture-centred intervention strategies to address issues before they lead to incarceration, aiming to divert them toward positive life choices.
• Transformative: We inspire profound change in jail inmates by reconnecting them with community, family, and spiritual foundation. We further provide traditional addiction counselling to prepare our clients for a meaningful reintegration into society.
• Restorative: Our post-release aftercare restores individuals to a productive, self-sufficient, and accountable role in society, which helps parolees avoid recidivism by building self-esteem and confidence.

Community Outreach

White Buffalo’s traditional teachings extend its land- and spirit-based educational and healing programs to positive working relationships in concert with Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals, organizations, and communities in a true spirit of reconciliation. We schedule day programs throughout the year for friends and guests from all cultures. All are welcome!

Recently, White Buffalo has partnered with Maamwizing Indigenous Research Institute at Laurentian University, devoted to innovative Indigenous research built upon inherent strengths of language, land, and cultural identity in partnership with a diverse group of scholars and community leaders committed to fostering collaboration, respect, and understanding.

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