In Part 1 of the episode, Eva Dusome shares experiences from an unexpected start to having since built a notable career in Ontario’s corrections. Eva discusses the impact of socioeconomic factors and trauma on incarceration, highlighting the barriers many face long before entering custody. Eva emphasizes the importance of rehabilitation, reintegration, and maintaining hope for change. And they highlight the value of life skills programming and trauma-informed care, and the need for humanizing, community-connected approaches to corrections. Eva also reflects on how their identity as a queer, Indigenous, non-binary person shapes their work in both corrections and academics through curriculum development, education, and their commitment to humanizing correctional practices. (00:16:23) Never Giving Up Hope on Someone (00:16:37) The Value of Time and Small Interventions (00:19:36) Teaching Basic Hygiene and Life Skills (00:22:23) Supporting Aging Parents with Care (00:25:13) Hyper-Independence and Accepting Help (00:26:32) Career Growth and Indigenous Teachings
In this two-part episode, Eva Dusome (she/they), Senior Staff Development Officer at Solicitor General, Instructor with Six Nations Polytechnic, and 2021 recipient of the Corrections Exemplary Service Medal, shares an inspiring and deeply personal journey through the intersecting worlds of corrections, identity, and systemic change.
In part one, Eva reflects on their 19-year career in Ontario’s correctional system, recounting how chance attendance at an information session led to their passion for working with incarcerated populations. Eva explores how trauma, poverty, and systemic inequities contribute to criminalization, emphasizing the importance of rehabilitation, reintegration, and humanizing support.
In part two, Eva delves into their identity as a Two-Spirit, non-binary Anishinaabe person, and how Indigenous teachings, land-based wisdom, and authenticity inform their own personal approach to leadership and advocacy. Eva shares their experience navigating colonial structures, both personally and professionally, and offers powerful insights on mentorship, courage, and change-making.
Throughout this powerful episode, Eva centers compassion, connection, and decolonization—challenging us to rethink justice and community through an Indigenous and queer lens.