A new program, in partnership between the Saskatoon Tribal Council and the Province of Saskatchewan, is aiming to help Indigenous women transition out of the criminal justice system.
The two organizations officially signed the agreement at an event in Saskatoon this morning.
The program is known as the Īkwēskīcik iskwēwak transition program, which translates to “turning their life around in Cree.
“Throughout history the matriarch has been the root of support for Indigenous families,” STC Chief Mark Arcand said. “Through the Īkwēskīcik iskwēwak program we will be able to give back and support Indigenous women as they reintegrate.”
According to officials, the program will be Indigenous-led and will focus on healing and wellness, education, training and employment, and promoting positive family relationships. All of this will be done in the hopes of reducing the number of people who re-offend.
“Community-based reintegration initiatives such as Īkwēskīcik iskwēwak help ensure supports are in place for individuals transitioning out of the criminal justice system,” Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Christine Tell said. “This is a major milestone to overcoming barriers for female offenders as they find stability in their community and leave the criminal lifestyle.”
According to recent reports, Indigenous women are over-represented in Saskatchewan’s correctional facilities. A report from the FSIN in 2021 says Indigenous women make up 90 percent pf the population at Prince Albert’s Pine Grove Correctional Centre while only representing 16 percent of the provincial population.
The Īkwēskīcik iskwēwak project will be run by the STC and will receive $1.2 million in funding from the province per year for the next three years.
(PHOTO: Mark Arcand speaking at the signing of this new partnership. Photo by Joel Willick.)