Native Institution Liaison Officers (NILO)

The John Howard Society of the Kawarthas Native Institution Liaison Officers (NILOs) who provide essential supports to Indigenous inmates at Central East Correctional Centre (CECC). NILOs focus on the well-being and cultural needs of Indigenous clients within the correctional system, while also supporting reintegration work. NILOs provide culturally relevant programs for Indigenous clients, such as smudge bags, medicine bags (that are blessed and made on site), cultural worksheets, and smudging ceremonies and prayers to the units on request. NILOs also work to educate clients on cultural practices and history. NILOs also work as liaisons, focused on coordinating services, making referrals, and completing treatment applications.

CECC’s NILOs provide hand drumming and singing during in the yard smudging ceremonies, and in the chapel on cultural teachings days. Clients have the option of participating in daily smudging ceremony, and weekly rotating traditional teachings groups. On average, there are around 100 clients on the smudge list.

CECC currently has two NILOs that are on site from Monday to Friday 8-4pm.

Contact Information: 

Robbin Savage 
Program Director – Institutional and Reintegration Services, Phoenix House Residence and Adult Diversion
Email: rsavage@jhscklh.on.ca
Phone: 705-340-0897