Two levels of government are backing away from their involvement with a healing lodge run by the Prince Albert Grand Council.
Saskatchewan Public Safety Minister Yogi Huyghebaert confirms his office did not renew a contract with the PAGC Spiritual Healing Lodge on the Wahpeton Dakota First Nation.
The minister wouldn’t get into specifics, but cites concerns with security, human resources and offender management.
He explains they informed the PAGC about their concerns last fall, but little progress was made in fixing them:
“Unfortunately, there was little progress on the action plan, and the serious concerns remain and continued to be identified.”
Huyghebaert says the government will look at any future proposals by the PAGC, but for now, their inmates are staying in different institutions.
The healing lodge was created back in 1997 with the Correctional Service of Canada acting as a third-party to the arrangement.
A spokesman with CSC says they also have not renewed their contract with the PAGC, but Jeff Campbell says a review is underway.
No one from the PAGC was immediately available for comment.