Women prisoners find a place to heal

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The Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge made history Aug. 24 when it opened its doors, becoming the first facility specifically built for federally sentenced Aboriginal female offenders.

The morning was bright, the air fresh and clean, high up in the old forest of the Cypress Hills. This is where the newly constructed Healing Lodge Okimaw Ohci, which translates as Thunder Hills, stands as a symbol of hope.

The facility was the brain child of several Aboriginal women who served on a task force, appointed in 1990, to look into creating choices for federally sentenced women. One member of the task force, Joan Lavallee of Duck Lake, was an invited speaker at the opening of the facility. She said when asked to give her opinion to the task force she surprised herself by saying "Close Kingston" and that is now what is being done.

Lavallee was referring to Kingston Penitentiary, the only facility in Canada for federally sentenced women. The lack of facilities meant that no matter where a woman may have originated, once federally sentenced, she would be sent to Kingston, Ontario. As a result many women completely lost contact with family and friends during their confinement.

Okimaw Ohci represents a chance for real healing through traditional ceremonies, support, understanding and compassion that will empower the women to do better for themselves, their families and the community.

Also attending the opening ceremonies was Alma Brooks, from St. Mary's First Nation in New Brunswick. She was instrumental in the conception of the Healing Lodge. Her philosophy that an environment free of racism, sexism, and classism is required for rehabilitation along with her personal experience of building a healing lodge for women in New Brunswick helped bring about the present objectives for modernizing correction facilities.

Objectives that include providing a healing model based on Aboriginal teachings, learning and practising various ceremonies related to spiritual and cultural well-being and sharing oral traditions.

"Last night during the horse dance, I felt that the ancestors are here and it feels good," said Brooks in her opening speech. Later she said it was very important to have medicine people and elders from all over Canada come here to help with the healing and to keep the energy strong.

She also suggested that an annual gathering at the site would give support to those working and living there.

Various members of the planning circle and members of the Nekaneet Band expressed their happiness that the vision of a healing lodge had become a reality.

After four days of fasting and asking for guidance from the ancestors the spot was finally chosen, said Larry Oakes, Nekaneet spokesperson and member of the planning circle.

He expressed his bitter-sweet sadness at "letting the baby go" after all the time of planning and preparation.

In the long process from the task force, through the planning circle, to the reality of Okimaw Ohci, so many people have shared the vision and the hope of a place being built among the Nekaneet people. A place where real healing for female offenders can occur.

"A safe place, close to loved ones," said Nekaneet Chief Glen Oakes.

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Okimaw Ohci in brief:

Location: 160 acres on Nekaneet First Nation in the Cypress Hills near Maple Creek, Sask.

Capacity: 30 women to be housed in two-bedroom and three-bedroom units. The lodge could house up to 10 children under the age of six.

Cost of Facility: $9.2 million

Annual operating cost: $2.6 million

Security: all levels: Most of the women are non-violent and considered a low risk to reoffend. For maximum security women a "safe lodge" has been built.

Staff: 27 including the director

Director: Norma Green, known as 'Kikawinaw' which translates as 'Our Mother'. Green is a member of the Wahpeton band near Prince Albert.

Opening: The first group of up to 10 women will be transferred to the facility Oct. 1 and 10 women a month for the next two month will follw.