Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
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Volume 62 • Issue 13
Healing lodge for youth involved with the legal system will be established in Thompson BY IAN GRAHAM
operation of a healing lodge, enhanced mental health and addictions supports, employment and skills training and community justice resources. “This will be, I believe, transformational for the youth who are involved in the healing lodge, I think, as well as for our understanding of how we do a better job of reducing recidivism and ensuring that young people don’t become engaged in the system,” said Goertzen. “We have to ensure that the programming is right, that we listen to the right elders and experts in terms of the programming that we’re going to have at the healing lodge.” There are other healing lodges in Canada but this is the first one the Manitoba government is involved with and it could look different than some others because it is focused on youth instead of adults, Goertzen said. The need for more justice resources in Thompson and the north has long been recognized and the use of restorative justice approaches in particular is not only one of the detachment initiatives for Thompson RCMP but was also recommended by the Thompson Economic Diversification Working Group that operated about a decade ago to help the city weather changes coming as a result of Vale permanently shutting down its smelter and refinery, which eventually happened in 2018. Also playing a role in
criminal behaviour to simply be scared straight is not a reasonable approach, Goertzen said. “When we simply have youth incarcerated for the duration of their sentence, and then we release them without any support, it’s hard to imagine why, on their own, they necessarily would get onto a better path. Some might but you’re just simply relying on their own initiative. There’s lots of evidence that if you engage a youth with programming prior to leaving a facility and ensure that the opportunity for those supports continues after they’ve left a facility, that they’re much more likely to succeed.” Settee said simply taking someone out of society and then letting them back in after a set amount of time only deals with their behaviour, which is a symptom of more deep-seated issues that the healing lodge approach can help address. “We’re not only treating the symptoms but the root causes of why young people exhibit these kinds of traits that get them in trouble,” said the grand chief. “Most of that has to do with a lot of pain that they’ve carried through intergenerational trauma. But this is a facility that will bring healing to them, culturally and with teachings from their elders, and also dealing with their anger, dealing with their grief, dealing with their pain.”
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
A partnership between the provincial government and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak will see a healing lodge for youth involved with the justice system established in Thompson. The project announced by Manitoba Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen in Winnipeg March 25 will develop in phases and it being supported by an initial investment of $2 million. The first goal is to develop 20 or more open custody beds for youth involved with police, whether it is through perpetration of crimes or simply being held in RCMP cells on account of intoxication. By providing access to cultural supports and traditional teachings, the hope is that the healing lodge will enable a more successful transition back to freedom for youth who have spent time in custody. “What’s currently happening right now [with incarcerated young offenders from the north] is that the youth are coming out or are here in Winnipeg and then there’s lots of problems associated with that,” said MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee. “They don’t have the support they need and they get lost in Winnipeg and then they revert back to the normal course of activities that got them in trouble.” The second and third phase of the initiative will include the development and
YouTube screenshot Manitoba Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen, left, and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee, right, during a March 25 news conference in Winnipeg announcing the establishment of a healing lodge in Thompson for youth involved with the legal system. the decision to establish a healing lodge for youth was the partnership of 30 different organizations, including the City of Thompson and MKO, to develop Thompson’s community safety and well being action plan, which was officially launched earlier this year, said the city’s mayor. “This is definitely one of those actions that has come to fruition because of that group,” said Mayor Colleen Smook. Indigenous people’s involvement with the legal system in Canada far outstrips their proportion of the population and, as Goertzen
noted March 24 when announcing the upcoming closure of the Agassiz Youth Centre in Portage, one of two youth jails in Manitoba where young offenders who commit serious crimes serve their sentences, the small and mostly Indigenous population of Northern Manitoba is where the “vast majority” of incarcerated youth are from. “For many years, First Nations leaders have been advocating for realistic and immediate strategies on how to address the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system and especially our
youth,” said Settee. “For far too long, many of our First Nations [people] have been in the system and they make up the majority of the populations in our system and in their institutions.” The healing lodge is not intended as a one-to-one replacement for a youth jail. “It’s not going to look like a traditional incarceration setting,” the justice minister said. “Obviously there’ll be interplay with Corrections but it’s going to be a lot more about supportive help than it is going to be about keeping somebody locked in a cell.” Expecting youth who have already strayed into
Justice minister appoints two new judges in Thompson
Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. be more Indigenous people Two new Thompson Law and began his career BY IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather write things that youProshave ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say working provincial court judges were to working for Manitoba in the provincial EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET to figure out. It’s pretty and thesystem. dangers of polar appointed March 23. ecutions. Briscoe alsoclear has I have all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents justice Though now written I get experience through.” as a I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it Vincentshe’s Sinclair and when additional “I commend Judge a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would Curtis Briscoe were named legislative analyst for the Sinclair for his ongoing efces Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people have backof tojustice,” Churchas growing judges up byinManitoba Manitoba government and forts moved in the field Addictions Foundation of the Wind: the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in aMKO heartbeat. Justice Minister Kelvin as the agentStories bylaw from prosecusaid Grand Chief Manitoba LifeCity in Churchill for She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite Garrison “I missSettee. the shoreline, Goertzen. northern director North tor for-the of Thomp“Being ap-I Gisele deMeulles writ- a couple of reasons. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the I misscourt the “Both of thesesaid individson. He spent his first three as a storyteller herself. pointed as rock, a provincial ing something she years “I just sort North of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that spectful. If we were in the polar though uals wasn’t have shown exemplary at Law doing judge isbears a hugeeven achievement always she to would knowdefence what, this dangerous and work andthought dedication their you criminal workhisin tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the same boat in another area they’re and is avery result of your hard do. tory, this stuff that’s in my hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson stories and they would go, professions and to their Thompson, Norway House, work. Thank you for your “In my youthGoertzen I never head, it’s goingand to beother gone ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, since the Hudson Bay Rail- about that so why don’t they Bay,” “When go communities,” Shamattawa serviceshe to says. the public in Ithis felt at writing,” I don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way suspended operations have the option to do that? back standingSinclair on the said good in a press release. “Ishe am if northern communities. area. home, Judge Vincent said. “Butthat when moved “Myhas kids are anot go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson looking on confident bothI will be said. Briscoe been board is a roleBay model forout other to getProvinto ing to get it volunteer if I don’t do it you? You’ve got to be really “It used to be a really feeling like they’re pawns the it just citizens gives you an fineThompson additions totothe member and with Firstbay, Nations who the school work, and it’s something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community in a political game and that’s incredible sense.aYou feel so incial Courtofofsocial Manitoba.” the Thompson Community wish to pursue career in at Briscoe, that point I had toatwrite wanted my2018. mom to I did all thatThompson before I Citizen was photos and it’scourtesy just dwindled downandreally sadSociety for them andof you feelI’m great.” a partner Law ways Foundation since the field law. very of Law North the Law of because ManitobaI small for university and realized, My mom’s elder and Curtis 27,’ and they went such aright, smallwere population the people of ChurchNow tothat got North in Thompson since do.Sinclair, whoan has worked knowshe’s of MKO Briscoe, left,‘What?’” and VincenttoSinclair, appointedthink Thompson provincial court proud ‘Holy, I’mits not bad at this, she’s an artist, she’s got so book under her belt, Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles says. ill really want to thrive. one 2016 and senior partner as a Crown attorney with citizens who are achieving judges March 23. right?’ I certainly developed wonderful stories beThough she’s not there They’ve built their worlds deMeulles says shemaking may trya and president since 2020, many Manitoba Prosecutions in those experiences are things their dreams while a lot of skill in university cause she always tells her she might not do again. any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce another. new provincial court judge degree in 1991, Sinclair Manitoba Keewatiwas appointed to fill a va- his hometown of The Pas positive impact on the world and came of there at Parks in position “I did some pretty bizarre sisterfor andOpaskwayak other family nowi if someone came to you and around “I have another book in in Thompson. Prior her worked Okimakanak issued cancy that out resulted fromwith the stories since 2010, wasCanada selected them.” a very strong my Churchill and always stuff like fuelahauls into thea members said, ‘I’m sorry, youthe haveanto me,” she says. “It’s a darker still which are. he is a a to attending law school, Cree Nation, statement after from a list of I’ve candidates A swearing-in ceremony transfer of Judgeskill ToddinRamwriting and confi dence in hounded her, ‘Please, just high Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin owns the leave your home community story, more about personchildhood dream that took member of, for 12 years and nouncement acknowledging bow from Thompson to The recommended by Maniwith the new appointees my I write very put it onjudicial tape, I will write it deMeulles. “Itto didn’t dawn she and we’re appointment going to displace andinstruggles. him 14 years realize af- hardware served twostore yearsthere,” as an OCN Sinclair’s and al Pas. writing. He is a 2011 graduate toba’s appointwillgrowth be held the near clear and that’s of it. It’s there. for youcommittee because your story until after. That was a says. you somewhere elsethere and all ter me completing a bachelor’s councillor. noting the need for to Maybe of University Windsor ment to fill a on future. in the next five years Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
is going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,
very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel
Because of that, deMeulles finds it hard to
your loved ones and your history is gone?’”
it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”