Abstract

There is a sharp contrast between the Euro-American and Aboriginal-American conceptualisations of criminality and its consequent treatment. While the Euro-American paradigm views criminality as a pathology of the individual, First Nations peoples view it as a spiritual, emotional, mental and physical imbalance that stems from, and ultimately has repercussions for, outside sources. Because of its holistic approach, emphasis on non-verbal symbolism and non-threatening use of art as a therapeutic milieu, art therapy proves to be an efficacious transcultural tool in the treatment of adult offenders at a correctional institution for Aboriginal men. Review and discussion of Euro-American and Aboriginal views of criminality and treatment is followed by a brief discussion of the historic and political context in which First Nations peoples are situated and which must be understood in order to fully grasp the basis for the contemporary social, emotional, and psychological conditions of Aboriginal individuals. This is followed by two case studies, which exemplify the use of art therapy in this context.