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Okimaw Ohci - healing the Nekaneet way

Okimaw ohci, the Cree words for "thunder breeding hills," is the name given to the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge on Nekaneet First Nation territory in southwest Saskatchewan.

Okimaw ohci, the Cree words for "thunder breeding hills," is the name given to the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge on Nekaneet First Nation territory in southwest Saskatchewan.

Driving up into the Cypress Hills, many experience as I did an incredible pull like a powerful magnet drawing me toward the lodge. I signed in at the main lodge and staff swiped a wand over me and ran my belongings through a scanner as if passing through customs. One of the first things that struck me, aside from the non-institutional feel of this warm, circular abode was that all staff and residents dressed in regular clothing, not uniforms, and laughter, smiles and hellos put you instantly at ease.

Deputy Warden LeeAnne Skene greeted me and showed me the building's layout. "The lodge designer won an architectural award," she said. "The roof of the main lodge looks like an eagle built on a circle. Everything is circular with only a few changes made so the facility's more functional."

Nekaneet First Nation, the Town of Maple Creek and the local rural municipality planned together over a number of years, selecting the site based on elders' visions and site bidding before the healing lodge opened in 1995 near Maple Creek.

Okimaw is a minimum to medium security facility focused on aboriginal women-specific programs for up to 40 residents. The current program evolved over time from the men's program, changing to a women-specific program in 2003 and finally to an aboriginal women-specific program in 2007. Designed as an integrated model, regardless of problematic behaviour (violence, drugs, etc.), the program remains the same based on adult learning, feminist, ecological and aboriginal teachings. Residents learn to apply traditional knowledge such as the medicine wheel, balance, seven sacred laws, problem solving, goal setting and conflict resolution in daily life, where they must also learn to live and get along with others in their housing units.

"Balance provides structured patterns so they don't get bored and fall back into negative patterns," Skene explained.

"Engagement in the correctional plan keeps them focused. Knowing this is their community (a safe environment), dynamic security helps establish trust and giving them the right program at the right time helps residents benefit the most."

When offenders are first sentenced and moved to a federal institution, correctional plans are established based on a 90-day intake assessment including reviews of police reports and court transcripts to determine programming needs. Those plans help reveal what programs best address individual goals.

"Offenders from any background can apply to come on remand status straight from institutions or do straight transfers," said Skene.

"We do a full review of their case, keeping in mind security, health and programming needs. Then it goes to a review board to determine if they're compatible."

The familial environment and set-up of the lodge is geared toward change. The operational plan states, "The philosophical model for the healing lodge is represented by the circle, depicting life in aboriginal culture as a never-ending spiral of growth."

Cree words are purposely introduced in Correctional Service Canada's language in both the lodge's operational plan and horse program to ensure no miscommunication mixes spiritual and CSC laws. As part of the larger family unit, female offenders now become known as iskwewak meaning "women" within the inner circle, the warden is kikawinaw as "mother" in the next circle along with her staff, deputy warden is assistant kikawinaw, team and assistant team leaders are kikawisinaw as "aunt," and primary workers are kimisinaw as "older sisters."

The third circle portrays the lodge's corporate relationship with the various commissioners and the outermost circle represents aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities supporting the lodge to make positive, all-inclusive connections. Residents unable to adapt to the non-rigid rules have been moved, but those who stay must be 100 per cent committed and follow their correctional plan to benefit from the program.

Posted outside the conference room, the "Resident's Routine" sheet reads, "When you arrive, you will have to make a routine for yourself at the lodge. A part of the healing process is making commitments and following through on them. The residents are responsible for waking in the morning and ensuring that they are attending programs or work placements throughout the day. To derive full benefit of what the lodge has to offer, a person has to be alert and open to change and new ways of living."

Residents must wake at 7 a.m., stand to count at 7:45 a.m., and meet for morning circle in the spiritual lodge at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday. Programs, school or work placement fill up the rest of the day, with breaks, meals and leisure time scheduled in between. Weekends follow a more flexible timetable to promote positive leisure activities such as meditation, smudging or balance.

Healing the whole person entails spiritual, mental, physical and emotional balance gained through programming such as CHIP "Choosing Health in Prison" (nutrition, rest, exercise and check-ups), the Mother-Child Program (currently facilitated through storytelling), work placement (learning crafts such as sewing on industrial-sized sewing machines, bead work, painting, or clay; community work such as landscaping, clothes sorting at Salvation Army and cleaning, laundry or greeting at the fitness centre in Maple Creek; cooking for sunvdance events in the Nekaneet First Nation's community), or the Nekaneet Horse Program, a four-week program designed to build trust and identity.

"Each program has its own merit," said Colleen Dean, manager of programs. "Each challenges a woman at all levels and aspects of their lives and we need to keep it on-going."

Dale Mosquito, programmer and co-ordinator of elder programs, works as a liaison to keep the community profile open and directs the one-of-a-kind horse program at the lodge.

"These women don't know who they are or how they got here," Mosquito said. "The horse helps us see who we are (emotions). We prepare residents by introducing them to sweats to look at life and help them determine what will put them on the right path.

"By looking at the medicine wheel, we move along the path as we do in life and it's divided by stages. The circle represents developmental growth and we can chart a person's progress on the circle for the elder's assessment."

Elders counsel and sit in on programs, teaching the women to take what they can get. Residents aren't always ready to learn, so 50 per cent is good and 40 percent is average. This program can be a challenge, like life, what Mosquito hopes to prepare them for.

Introducing women to the Nekaneet way of life, horses teach many things, as they are all different in appearance and personality.

"From 2002 until now, a light has suddenly gone on in one resident. Some change is gradual; everyone's different. Horses help to bring about this change. The horse is unbiased. If you're scared, it's something inside of you that you need to work on," said Mosquito.

He works to slowly gain the women's trust so they can see a positive male role model.

Guests and volunteers work with the women at the lodge. Mary Sanderson, an art therapist from Toronto, helped them discover and channel new talents into pro-social positive avenues. One woman spoke free of charge about her book on personal abuse, telling residents how she got into the trades (welding) and the importance of schooling at the lodge. Comedians Don Burnstick and Moccasin Joe, who advocate healing through humour, have also shared their message. The program brings fresh faces to the residents and provides balance and social integration.

After years of working at the Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary near Prince Albert, Skene said, "This is a breath of fresh air every day. The lodge has created opportunities for me. I bring my four young boys out here, interacting, which we promote and women get the experience of being with kids, many of them mothers who miss their children, and my husband gets to see how special it is to bring the kids in. It's the best medicine they could have."

Staff see residents change as a whole, from women who won't look or respond, to someone who takes part in programs and later greets people.

"My expectations have changed," said Dean. "Baby steps are OK. I'm not expecting leaps and bounds. Greeting speaks volumes. It's an issue of trust and breaking through those barriers."

Professionally, Dean expected a short-term five year career at the Lodge, but it didn't happen that way. Looking for something spiritual in her life, the aboriginal beliefs fit with her.

"It taught me commitment," said Mosquito, "and I learned how to cry, a far-reaching impact for me. I get to see the power of the lodge every day. I can't walk away when I see these good things."

Mosquito's visions guide him as to the future of the lodge and his own path there, so in the spring when he saw rain followed by thunder in the hills, he knew it meant another good year.

Throughout my visit, I felt a sense of peacefulness, so it was no surprise to hear it's difficult for some residents to leave this "safe" place. Without housing, resources or a support system, reintegrating into society can be very challenging.

"It's good to have parole and low-parole, as conditional release women may relapse through substance abuse or lack of support, but returning to the lodge is not a bad thing," Skene said.

Feeling guilt, shame and embarrassment, these women learn with the lodge's help to embrace this experience through the valuable lessons they acquire and the staff firm up a plan to help the women with change. Learning they can't rely on drugs. It helps the women get back on track.

It's not uncommon for staff to hear back from past residents who introduce them to their children, call to ask for help, or let them know how they're doing and sometimes Dean receives cards. With a twinkle in her eye, Dean said, "It's all about planting a seed."

International visitors are impressed with their unique programming and policies and say they're doing a good job if they're still here, growing and evolving. Changes such as funding cuts are dealt with as they come.

"Strong leadership with lots of experience is the key to the healing lodge's success," Skene said. "Community service with Nekaneet First Nation and Maple Creek speaks to the lodge's success with the bridges that have been built."

The teachings and philosophy behind the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge's Operational Plan and the healing programs may be viewed online at http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/prgrm/fsw/fsw13/ohci-eng.shtml.