IT IS NOTED THAT NATIVE PEOPLE REPRESENT THE LARGEST SINGLE ETHNIC MINORITY IN CANADIAN PRISONS, BOTH PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL. THIS STUDY IS AN ATTEMPT TO ACQUIRE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THIS GROUP. AN 81-ITEM QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED BY DIRECT CONTACT OF PROJECT STAFF WITH A SAMPLE OF 316 NATIVE INMATES FROM 26 INSTITUTIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE MAJOR FINDINGS COVERING AGE, SECURITY LEVEL, TYPE OF OFFENSE, SENTENCE LENGTH, AND INDIAN STATUS, RESULTS ALSO SHOW DETAILS OF PREVIOUS JUVENILE AND ADULT CRIMINAL HISTORY, COMMUNITY AND SOCIOECONOMIC DATA, DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE, AND ASSOCIATIONS WITH BROTHERHOOD AND SISTERHOOD ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE INSTITUTIONS VISITED. WHILE NO THEORETICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULTS IS ATTEMPTED, THE APPALLING SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE COMMUNITIES FROM WHICH THE NATIVE INMATES HAVE COME IS MENTIONED, AND THE LACK OF COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS IS NOTED. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGE ARE MENTIONED IN THE CONTEXT OF NATIVE SELF-DETERMINATION, AND THE NECESSITY FOR INCREASED PARTICIPATION AND CONTROL BY NATIVE PEOPLE OVER DECISIONS AFFECTING THEM IS PROMOTED. (RCB)