Healing circle ends grief and suffering

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For 34-year-old Tammy Crier, a healing circle ceremony held on Nov. 1 gave her an opportunity to close the books on her father's wrongful conviction for murder and his difficult life and death after his incarceration and release.

Wilson Nepoose was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Marie Rose Desjarlais in 1987, but was released after five years in jail when the family convinced the courts to reopen the case.

The Nov. 1 healing circle was a highly-charged, emotional affair as family members discussed how the wrongful conviction had taken its toll on them. About 20 people, including Elders, RCMP members and others involved with the case, took part in the ceremony, which consisted of a pipe ceremony, speeches and a luncheon.

"When it came time for me to speak at the healing circle, it did not matter who was observing," said Crier. "I thought that this is my opportunity to say what I have to say in respect to my late father, and what we've experienced through this ordeal. It was really emotional for me. I had to let go of what I had inside my heart and in my mind, so when we finished the circle and we prayed I thought 'OK, I said what I had to say, and it is finished.'"

RCMP Inspector Brian Simpson, the officer in charge of the Wetaskiwin and Hobbema detachments, was at the circle and reflected on the importance of forgiveness.

"I would like to thank the family for inviting us there. The forgiveness portion of the circle was great. We should forgive, yes. But forget? No, because we learn from our mistakes. It is important for us to forgive, so that we can learn to move toward the future," he said.

A round dance was held each evening at the end of the two days of healing and attended by about 500 people. Crier, who carried her father's picture in a ceremony during the round dance, said she experienced a sense of freedom, peace and happiness.

"The picture was of my late dad and my Uncle Lester, who I now call dad. It was taken when my dad believed that he was victorious. The picture told a story of how my dad felt when he gained his freedom. I looked at that picture before I walked the circle and I thought of my dad in respect to finding his innocence, his freedom. We won. I felt proud and released of that burden. It was really beautiful. We've done this for him and we've done all the protocol needed to reassure him that we love him," she said.

"It was a bit hard to do that walk, because my children do not have a grandfather today. But just having people there who shared their smiles and 'hi's' and 'how are you's' was really helpful and emotional. It felt good at the round dance with that many people praying. It was so beautiful," she said.

The healing circle was held only after a compensation package was offered and accepted by the family for their father, posthumously, for the injustice he suffered. The most significant thing for the family, said Crier, was that they were able to pay back the Samson Band the money it had contributed to help clear their father's name.

She hopes that the story of Wilson Nepoose will give people an incentive to continue working on any struggles they have in respect to wrongful convictions, and injustices within the criminal justice system.

"It was not about the money. This is what my late father wanted and we are making a point that we as Aboriginal people are recognized and that we do have rights. We have a lot more people now coming together to support one another, and I just hope that we make a difference in someone's life when it comes to wrongful convictions. I'd like us to hold on to our sense of pride, dignity, and who we are as First Nations people, and at the same time to stand up for what we believe in, and for what we believe is right. We've learned a lot," she said.

"I heard stories of how he lost his spirit while he was incarcerated and what he endured while he was there. It sounds like it was a nightmare. I guess it is that understandingof what he went through and when he attempted to explain what he endured and how he felt about being robbed of his life is something I will never forget," she said.

Nepoose went missing in 1997 and was found dead in 1998.

"I believe that my late father is in a good place. He's been through a lot. In my opinion this is a success story. It is done. Everything is done and his memory will live on," Crier said.