And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Date: Sun, 27 Jun 1999 07:55:34 -0400 From: Lynne Moss-Sharman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: "grasping the healing process" in Stony Mountain Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" June 27, 1999 First lessons learned in prison By BOB HOLLIDAY -- Winnipeg Sun It's a sad reality that first contact many aboriginal men make with their culture and traditions is often made in prison. From personal observations, those who truly practice the teachings and traditions do experience a dramatic turnaround in lifestyle and spirituality and go onto live productive lives. Currently, more than 80 per cent of the 1,320 inmates in provincial jails are aboriginal, while 52 per cent (229) of the 445 inmates at Stony Mountain prison are of native descent. According to Corrections Canada statistics, about 10 per cent of these current inmates will re-offend. "I was one of them. I had to come to prison to learn," said Jody Breland, 27. "You can't go on blaming other people. You have to ask yourself if you want to follow the traditions or a life that goes nowhere." Officials and inmates hope the opening last Monday of the Eshkwa-a-dum (Last Voice Tipi) spiritual lodge inside the walls of Stony Mountain Penitentiary will decrease the number of repeat offenders. Using inmate labour, the 386-square-metre lodge cost $600,000. Shaped like a turtle, the lodge features a circular, limestone-lined interior with an open fire pit for use as a sweat lodge. The lodge received a hand-carved poumanu stone mounted on a kauri slab from New Zealand Mauri warrior William Matoe. "This building will help First Nation and Metis people grasp the healing process more effectively," said A.C. Watson, head of the inmate welfare committee. For the uninformed, the turtle is the aboriginal symbol for truth. But for the lodge to be successful, the participants must be true to themselves and the Creator. "This gives us back our responsibility to search inside ourselves ... to enhance a healing process ... to help us start something inside ourselves to learn and understand," said elder Bob Wasicuna. "You can make the building, but that decision is up to you." Breland agrees with the elder. "We need to heal ourselves. For the ones who want to help themselves, they can come and start their healing," he said. Northwind Hart, 22, is serving a six-year sentence for break and enter offences. Now a member of the Circle Strong Singers drum group, he admits he turned his back on the teachings. "I grew up with it, but turned the other cheek," said Hart. Inmates get younger "If I hadn't, I wouldn't have been drinking and doing the other crap and I'd still be on the outside." Native Brotherhood leader Richard Paul -- a Stony Mountain resident for most of the past 16 years -- urged the younger inmates to make use of the facility. "The inmate population keeps getting younger and younger. Maybe this will give a start to the young guys. I hope they will take advantage of the facility." June 27, 1999 'Cruel psychos' Drop-In Centre director says violent offenders terrorizing homeless By PETER SMITH -- Calgary Sun Psychopaths are preying on Calgary's homeless, beating them up on power trips, and scaring them into silence, says a shelter manager. "There are psychopaths, real cruel ones out there wandering the neighbourhood," said Dermot Baldwin, executive director of the Drop-In Centre. Speaking in the wake of the slaying of Raymond Lee Cutter, 49, a street person who was beaten to death near the Drop-In Centre Thursday, Baldwin described escalating violence against the homeless. "Most of the violence is senseless," he said, pointing out most homeless people haven't got any valuables to lose in a robbery. "It's getting worse, there are more groups wandering downtown, causing more violence among the people who can't defend themselves," he said. Most of the violent offenders sometimes wander through the Drop-In Centre but don't live there. "These are straight acts of violence, control, just showing off how tough they can be by beating someone up'" Baldwin said. "The beatings that are taking place don't make any sense at all.It's just a pastime for them to go beating on the homeless." Baldwin said police were powerless to help as few of the victims dared complain. "Victims are so scared they won't press charges, particularly against the ones who are the most violent," he said. "They are so afraid they won't let anyone do anything against them." Insp. Peter Jackson said police were aware of a slight increase in street beatings downtown -- and have stepped up their presence in the area. "Officers in District 1 have put an effort in to be down there as much as possible trying to keep an eye on these unfortunate people," he said. Last night, police made several arrests after an assault left one person beaten and another with facial cuts after a fight in the Cecil Hotel -- only yards from the scene of Thursday's slaying. Homicide detectives have charged Kanaisa Evelyn Wesley, 21, her brother Leo Jerome Wesley, 27, and Douglas Frank Ross, 38, with manslaughter in Cutter's death. His body was found under the 4 Ave. flyover near the Drop-In Centre and the Cecil Hotel. "Let Us Consider The Human Brain As A Very Complex Photographic Plate" 1957 G.H. Estabrooks www.angelfire.com/mn/mcap/bc.html FOR K A R E N #01182 who died fighting 4/23/99 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.aches-mc.org 807-622-5407 Reprinted under the fair use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
