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Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge

No Walls, No Wire, But I Will Never Run Away

Enhanced capacities to provide effective interventions for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Offenders

BY Djamila Amellal, Communications Officer, Communications and Citizen Engagement

Photos: Bill Rankin

The Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge (OOHL) was built specifically to meet the diverse and unique needs of federally sentenced women. It follows the requirements for Aboriginal correctional initiatives noted in Creating Choices, the 1990 report of the Task Force on Federally Sentenced Women: the participation of Aboriginal women and Elders, the connection of the lodge to the Aboriginal community and an approach that is meaningful to Aboriginal women.

The lodge, located on the Nekaneet Reserve near Maple Creek in southwest Saskatchewan, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. The philosophy of Aboriginal life enriches and guides the day-to-day work carried out by lodge staff, and sets this lodge apart from traditional Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) institutions. Staff members all say that after 10 years there is cause for celebration.

The Lodge

Built in 1995, Okimaw Ohci — the Cree term for Thunder Hills — is located on 160 acres of land on the Nekaneet Reserve. This minimum- and medium-security institution currently houses 28 residents, the majority of which are Aboriginal; a number of non-Aboriginal residents have also opted for its holistic lifestyle.

The circular administration building is the main entrance to the lodge. Further down, and closer to the forest, are the 14 living units: eight contain three bedrooms and six contain two bedrooms. One secure living unit equipped with video cameras, another unit used for private family visits, plus two units housing Elders who stay at the lodge complete the OOHL. These units flank the spiritual lodge, where residents take part in traditional spiritual practices guided by Elders. A sweat lodge sits in the middle of the forest nearby; the yellows, reds and greens that colour the wings of the structure blend in well with the natural setting.

“The vision for this healing lodge has become a reality,” explains Dorene Sayer, Acting Kikawinaw. (Kikawinaw means “mother” in Cree, which translates to “executive director” in this setting.)

“Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge is guided by the CSC Mission as well as the Vision Document. The Vision Document is, in part, the result of extensive consultations supported by CSC and held with various stakeholders — the federally sentenced women, communities, and Elders who contributed to the development of the healing lodge. The Vision Document also articulates the principles, philosophy and teachings of the Aboriginal way of life, reflecting our values, beliefs and interaction with ourselves, others and all Creation.”

In speaking about operations and the day-to-day functioning of the OOHL, Elaine Philpott, Acting Assistant Kikawinaw (Acting Assistant Director) explains, “This institution is different from the others because everything we do is derived from the Aboriginal culture. This is reflected in our organizational structure. The Kikawisinaw (“aunts”) are the team leaders, and the Kimisinaw (older sisters) are the primary workers. Here, we focus on the family concept. The doors are always open to the residents, who do not need an appointment to meet with their Kikawinaw.”

Dynamic Security as the Foundation

To successfully carry out its mission to ensure the safety of employees, residents and the public, the OOHL employs nearly 50 staff, including the Kikawinaw, the Assistant Kikawinaw, 4 Kikawisinaw, 21 Kimisinaw, 1 parole officer, 3 program officers, 5 Elders who work on a rotating basis, and a number of support and essential service staff such as clerical, administrative, food services, and maintenance.

“From the beginning,” explains Ms. Sayer, “this lodge was designed to adhere to the holistic approaches utilized by traditional peoples, unique and different from the mainstream CSC institutions. Security requirements at the healing lodge afford residents and staff a high level of safety, and comfort, accomplished by using dynamic security principles. We have no fences, no barbed wire and no walls around the lodge, and minimal static security so it does not hinder our lifestyle in any way. Our relationships with the residents, mutual respect and the choices we provide are the tools that help us.”

According to Elaine Philpott, security is enhanced by the fact that the OOHL staff selects the candidates who stay at the lodge. “Residents are not placed here; we approve cases from those who apply voluntarily. They must satisfy a set of criteria and meet our expectations.”

Diverse Programs for Diverse Needs

The programs of the lodge are focused on healing and presented in a manner that is culture and gender sensitive. Elders and the traditional teachings are the foundation on which all programs are based.

When residents — both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal — are asked why they chose the OOHL, they list the natural surroundings, clean air, pure water, the sacred land of Nekaneet, the sense of freedom, communication with Elders, and a sense of belonging to a large family as the aspects that attracted them. Above all, they are convinced that the programs will help set them on the right path, help them be good mothers to their children, and become respected members of their community.

According to Janice Manygreyhorses, Kikawisinaw of Programs, healing begins with self-understanding and the acknowledgement of life-altering events. There are three types of programs at the OOHL to meet the specific needs of its residents: CSC basic programs, such as Spirit of a Warrior, Circles of Change, Women Offender Substance Abuse Program, and Nekaneet Horse Teachings program; the Elders Program that is held in the spiritual lodge; and the Mother-Child Program. There is also a recreational program that includes sports, crafts and music.

All programs emphasize spirituality; accordingly, the day begins with a talking circle in the spiritual lodge, in the presence of Elders. This ritual starts with the burning of sweet grass and sage, and prayer; afterwards, the residents voice their fears, dreams and thoughts before making their way to their daily program activities. Given that the residents are members of diverse Aboriginal nations, the spiritual activities vary widely and include fasting, sun dances, sweat lodges and other ceremonies. They are all ways of teaching respect for the residents’ respective nations.

“At some point in their lives,” explains Jean Oakes, an OOHL Elder who started working here when the lodge first opened, “these residents were led astray because of abuse. Emotionally, they are still there, and that is the starting point of the path to healing. The residents have a correctional plan and a healing plan that is tied in with the teaching of Aboriginal values, fundamental protocols, dances and Indian names.”

Developed by the Native Counselling Services of Alberta, the Spirit of A Warrior program — one of the most popular holistic Aboriginal programs — begins to heal the cycle of violence and teaches skills to deal more effectively with emotional issues that contribute to violent behaviour. The Circles of Change program, developed by Manitoba Justice, teaches a number of skills and defines the role of women in Aboriginal culture.

The OOHL is currently offering a new program, the Nekaneet Four Seasonal Horse Teachings Program, developed and owned by the Nekaneet First Nation. The program teaches residents traditional lessons about the horse from a Nekaneet perspective, and allows them to master the basics of equine care and horseback riding. Horses are often used for healing in Aboriginal culture.

A Successful, Innovative Model

According to the OOHL’s staff, the residents usually arrive feeling a profound sense of emptiness. Through the programs they attend and the traditional teachings of the Elders, they learn to understand what has happened to them and why they travelled the road that led them to incarceration. They rediscover their spirit and develop pride in themselves.

“This lodge has a philosophy and a vision,” says Elaine Philpott, “and we are committed to doing whatever it takes to be successful. When former residents call us, just to let us know they are doing well, that is proof of their accomplishments … and ours.” ♦