Abstract
The purpose of this article is to examine the leisure experiences of Aboriginal women in a Canadian federal prison as they engaged in traditional ceremony. This study explores how Aboriginal women's experiences of ceremony, conceptualized as leisure, challenged the controlling environment of the prison and contributed to the release of pain and other feelings that resulted from traumatic events. The healing experiences of the Aboriginal women in this study are ultimately contrasted with the oppressive environment of the prison. The findings suggest that surveillance, discipline and punishment were replaced with a safe and secure emotional space, which provided an environment for the women to collectively reveal their vulnerabilities and begin to heal. This process of healing led to the embodiment of Sisterhood, which was portrayed through the development of mutually trusting, caring and supportive relationships.
Published Version
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