Indigenous adults in Saskatchewan are incarcerated at the highest rate in Canada compared to non-Indigenous people, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada.

Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Vice Chief Craig McCallum says the issue begins much earlier, pointing to gaps in support for Indigenous youth involved in the justice system.

“There’s around 950 youth out on community sentences or on bail in Saskatchewan,” McCallum said. “I think about what kind of rehabilitation they’re getting right now — whether it’s therapy, counselling, addiction treatment or cultural programming. This is one system, one pathway to prison.

Statistics appear to support his concerns. In Saskatchewan, Indigenous adults are incarcerated at a rate 19.4 times higher than non-Indigenous adults. Among the six provinces that provided data, Alberta ranked second at 10.2 times higher, followed by British Columbia at 9.4, Ontario at 8.3, Prince Edward Island at 3.4 and New Brunswick at 3.2.

John Howard Society of Saskatchewan CEO Shawn Fraser says the numbers are troubling, but not without hope.

“The bad news is these stats are real and they’re getting worse,” Fraser said. “The good news is there’s a lot of good work being done, particularly by Indigenous organizations, communities and families, that is helping to change these trends.”

McCallum says organizations like the FSIN are working to address the root causes, particularly by focusing on youth.

“We’re trying to come up with a better strategy, a better way of helping these young people heal,” he said. “It comes down to whether people are serious about changing the system.”

While progress has been slow, McCallum says he remains hopeful as discussions continue with the provincial government and Indigenous partners across Saskatchewan.