Cultural Centre At Jail Called “A Dream Come True”
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 13:07
Several First Nations leaders and elders were in attendance this morning for the grand opening and blessing of the new cultural building at the Regina Correctional Centre.
The cultural building will provide a sacred space for inmates to practice their cultural ceremonies and will be accessible to approximately 300 sentenced inmates.
The building consists of two areas: one is open to the earth where a sweat lodge can be constructed in the winter months; and the second is an open space for cultural programming that will be used for pipe ceremonies, talking circles, feasts and workshop-style programming.
The jail’s cultural coordinator, Leslie Gordon, says the cultural centre has been a long time coming.
Gordon says people in jail can maintain their culture and pride through spiritual programming — noting she was moved by listening to a drum group of inmates at this morning’s ceremony, and witnessing the pride they had in themselves.
She says she is more than willing to provide something that will give them any bit of strength to help them on the outside.
The manager of First Nations and Metis programming for Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, Maureen Lerat, says the centre is a dream come true.
Lerat says the building is a vision she has had ever since she joined the ministry — and she would like to see a centre like this in every one of the province’s correctional facilities.
Both women acknowledge elder Glen Anaquod for helping make the centre a reality.