📜 Statement of Purpose

Sanctuary of the Rastafarian Order (SOTRO) National Authority for Rastafari Faith in Canadian Correctional Systems

Who We Are

The Sanctuary of the Rastafarian Order (SOTRO) is the recognized national faith-based authority representing the Rastafari faith community within Canadian correctional institutions.

Founded to uphold the spiritual integrity and human rights of Rastafari adherents in Canada, SOTRO provides:

Faith-based leadership and guidance to correctional systems and institutional partners
Certified Elders and Chaplains serving within institutions under Bridges of Canada contracts
Policy engagement and advocacy on behalf of Rastafari inmates at both federal and provincial levels
Educational resources and training for corrections staff and chaplaincy networks
Expert consultation on matters involving Rastafari religious rights and accommodations

Our Mission

SOTRO’s mission is to:

✅ Protect and promote the religious rights of Rastafari inmates in Canada ✅ Ensure equal treatment and dignity for Rastafari religious practice under Canadian and international human rights law ✅ Provide spiritual leadership and pastoral care through certified Elders and chaplains ✅ Develop and maintain clear standards and guidance for Rastafari religious observance in correctional settings ✅ Collaborate constructively with institutional partners to build mutual understanding and respect ✅ Establish SOTRO as the national voice and faith authority for Rastafari matters in Canada

Our Work to Date

SOTRO is an established and trusted partner in the Canadian correctional landscape, having demonstrated effective leadership and professional collaboration through:

✅ Successful partnership with CSC HQ Food Services — leading to the development and implementation of an official Ital Diet Policy (Vegan and Conscious variations) now embedded in the CSC National Menu 2024-25 and FSIMS

✅ Issuing of Mandate Letters for certified Rastafari Elders and Chaplains, currently serving inmates across Canada through contracts with Bridges of Canada

✅ Expert Witness role in provincial legal proceedings — including providing an Expert Summary Opinion for the BC Human Rights Tribunal in David Somers v. His Majesty the King in Right of the Province of British Columbia (Case No. CS–000870), further affirming SOTRO’s status as a credible national authority on Rastafari faith and practice

✅ Direct engagement with the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General (SOLGEN) — providing faith guidance to the Provincial Chaplaincy Coordinator to support improved Rastafari religious accommodation

✅ Ongoing policy advocacy and education to advance equitable religious accommodation for Rastafari adherents in both federal and provincial correctional systems

Our Role

SOTRO serves as:

✅ The national voice of Rastafari faith matters in Canadian correctional systems ✅ The recognized point of contact for all policy and accommodation discussions related to Rastafari practice ✅ The certifying body for Rastafari Elders and Chaplains providing spiritual services within institutions ✅ The educational and advocacy resource for corrections officials, chaplaincy networks, human rights organizations, and legal stakeholders ✅ The standard-setting body for authentic terminology, practice guidance, and accommodation frameworks for Ital Diet and Sacramental Cannabis Use within correctional settings

Our Commitments

SOTRO operates with:

✅ Respect for all faith traditions ✅ Commitment to collaborative dialogue ✅ Professional integrity and accountability ✅ Faithfulness to Rastafari spiritual principles and Livity ✅ Dedication to equal rights and dignity for all Rastafari adherents in custody

Conclusion

As the national authority for Rastafari faith in Canadian correctional settings, SOTRO is committed to continuing its work in partnership with:

Correctional Service Canada (CSC)
Provincial correctional systems
Chaplaincy directorates
Human rights organizations
Legal stakeholders

to ensure that Rastafari inmates receive equal respect, recognition, and accommodation within Canada’s correctional landscape.

Principles of the Sanctuary of the Rastafarian Order (SOTRO)

A Twelve Tribes Rastafari Mission Rooted in the Nazirite Vow and Ancient Spiritual Order

01

Jah is the Most High and Only Sovereign We affirm that Jah is the Almighty Creator, the Iternal Source of life, order, and righteousness. All trod, vow, and livity must begin and end with reverence for the Most High.

02

The Nazirite Vow is Our Sacred Covenant We walk in the tradition of the Nazirite vow (Numbers 6), dedicating ourselves wholly to Jah. This includes growing the locks, abstaining from strong drink and dead flesh, and keeping our bodies and spirits separate from Babylon’s corruption.

03

The Twelve Tribes of Israel is Our House of Order We recognize the spiritual framework of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, each soul aligned by birth month and character. This structure helps guide our study, discipline, and collective identity as set-apart people.

04

The Holy Scriptures Guide Our Overstanding We uphold the Bible, especially the laws, psalms, and prophetic writings, as the blueprint for righteous living. We also gain overstanding from sacred texts like the Kebra Nagast and Ethiopian traditions that affirm African divinity and priesthood.

05

Livity Must Be Ital and Clean Ital is not a diet—it is a way of life. We reject unclean foods, chemicals, and harmful substances. We eat from the Earth, seek natural healing, and live in harmony with the Irit of Jah within us and all creation.

06

Locks Are a Sacred Symbol of the Vow The dreadlocks are not style—they are sacrament. A visible and spiritual sign of our covenant with Jah, our locks shall not be cut, shamed, or hidden. They are the crown of our spiritual royalty and vow.

07

Haile Selassie I is the Defender of the Faith We honor H.I.M. Haile Selassie I as the living fulfillment of African kingship, defender of the Ethiopian Orthodox heritage, and a witness to the power of righteousness in high places.

08

Separation from Babylon is Essential To keep the vow, one must avoid the corruption of Babylon: unjust systems, spiritual confusion, and cultural pollution. We live upright, not just for ourselves, but as light to others caught in bondage.

09

Zion is the Destination and the Vibration Zion is both a place and a state of being. Spiritually, it is the place of I-ration, purity, and harmony. Physically, we look to Africa—especially Ethiopia—as our ancestral and prophetic home.

10

. The Vow Must Be Lived in Word and Action We reason, we fast, we chant, we heal. The Nazirite vow is not passive—it is active devotion. Through daily discipline, community service, and upliftment, we uphold the sanctity of the vow in all areas of life.

📜 SOTRO Historical Timeline 2012 – Foundation Year

2012 – Foundation Year
- Sanctuary of the Rastafarian Order (SOTRO) is officially established in Burnaby, BC.
- Becomes the first registered Rastafarian church in Canada.
- Founded as a spiritual refuge rooted in Twelve Tribes of Israel tradition, open to all mansions of Rastafari.

2013–2016 – Early Reasoning & Community Growth
- Weekly reasoning sessions, Nyabinghi chant circles, and Ital workshops begin.
- The sanctuary becomes a recognized hub for scriptural study and Rastafari cultural expression in Metro Vancouver.
- Initiates Ital food drives and spiritual counseling services.

2017 – Outreach & Advocacy Expansion
- Begins engagement with correctional chaplaincy and justice system reform partners.
- SOTRO introduces faith-based resources for incarcerated Rastafarians, including literature and dietary advocacy.

2020 – Digital Presence & Education
- SOTRO strengthens its online presence through education, livestreams, and sacred text distribution.
- Launches public workshops on Ital livity, Rastafari history, and cultural repatriation.

2024–2025 – Certification & Institutional Partnerships
- Develops and releases the Ital Certification Program, offering structured dietary guidance aligned with Rastafari tradition.
- Expands chaplaincy collaboration across British Columbia.
- Introduces the “Rasta Reasoning & Rehabilitation” model, integrating Rastafari wisdom into restorative justice frameworks.

Today
- SOTRO stands as a living sanctuary of faith, service, and cultural strength, committed to the creed: “Let the hungry be fed, the naked clothed, the sick nourished, the aged protected, and the infants cared for.”

About Frameworks

🧱 Framework of SOTRO The Sanctuary of the Rastafarian Order (SOTRO) operates on a divine framework of liberation, upliftment, and overstanding, guided by the teachings of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I and rooted in the fullness of Rastafari livity.

🌍 Community Engagement SOTRO partners with the wider community to:
Provide spiritual guidance, cultural education, and youth mentorship
Host reasoning circles, Ital food distributions, and cultural workshops
Promote unity among mansions and uplift through livity and works

🚪 Incarcerated Outreach SOTRO is committed to serving incarcerated brethren and sistren by: Offering spiritual counseling and Rastafari chaplaincy rooted in scripture and livity
Advocating for religious rights, Ital diet access, and the honoring of dreadlocks and sacred observances Supporting re-entry pathways, inner healing, and skill-building upon release
Our work flows from the creed:
"Let the hungry be fed, the naked clothed, the sick nourished, the aged protected, and the infants cared for." SOTRO moves as a body — guided by Word, Sound, and Power — to manifest redemption, repatriation, and restoration among the people.