There’s a new face behind the controls of the Willow Cree Healing lodge.
Eric Michael, a member of the Beardy’s Okemasis Cree Nation has officially replaced Trent Mitchell as the director of the facility.
Michael has spent much of his career at Willow Cree, which houses roughly 80 minimum-risk offenders.
He says he believes very much in the vision of the elders who helped create the centre:
“I guess my main focus will be to remain focus to that original vision. It was a very grand and wonderful vision that they had, in terms of helping men to heal, to acquire their identity as an Aboriginal person.”
He adds building community partnerships, like the one they have with Habitat for Humanity, is also a key focus.
Michael says Aboriginal Corrections is a very exciting field to be working in right now.