The same principles of hard work and pride in their native culture that have made the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) one of the most progressive and successful in Canada will be at the core of ensuring a new halfway house for aboriginal offenders gains community support here in Osoyoos, says Chief Clarence Louie.

“This is about helping my people,” said Louie, following a presentation to town council Monday about the OIB’s plan to own and operate, with assistance for Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) a five-room halfway house proposed for 45 Street heading towards the Spirit Ridge resort. “Talk is cheap, we can’t say we want to help our people, but say not here in my backyard.

“It’s easy for people to say they want Grade A furniture in their homes, but they don’t want foresty in their backyard. Everyone has tons of stuff in their home made out of metal, but most don’t want mining in their backyard. I want to help my people and I’m prepared to do it here in my backyard.”

Louie made a brief presentation before council about why the OIB wants to get involved, before Melissa Taylor, project manager for aboriginal offenders and Lorrie Kelsey, area director, answered numerous questions from councillors about the halfway house called NK’Mip House.

NK’Mip House, as proposed, would be a five-bedroom home that would host conditionally released, aboriginal male federal and provincial offenders.

No offenders with any convictions for sex-related offences will be eligible for residency at the proposed halfway house in Osoyoos.

In keeping with the values of the OIB, employment and pride in aboriginal heritage are the cornerstones of the program, Louie told council.

Louie participated in a Blue Ribbon Panel, which conducted an independent review of the CSC. It’s through this exposure with CSC, that the OIB became interested in developing a housing and employment program for aboriginal offenders to help them with the reintegration by instilling the values of hard work and pride in aboriginal heritage, that have been the foundation for the success of the people of the Osoyoos Indian Band for decades, Louie told council.

Every resident accepted into the program would be responsible for contributing to the functioning of the household and to secure gainful employment on or off the reserve, he said. They would be charged $500 a month and be responsible for cleaning their room and household cleaning.

NK’Mip House would be run by a house leader who works full-time hours within the house, said Taylor. The house leader would play a significant role in creating a “home like atmosphere”, while also providing structures and rules for co-operative living, said Taylor. The house leader would also assist residents in obtaining employment after their admission to the house.

Entry level positions will be available for those with little job skills or training. For residents who possess job ready skills, an effort will be made to put them in a position that will match their skill set and allow for professional growth, she said.

The OIB would be responsible for owning the house and operating it, but would work in a close partnership with CSC staff, who run similar programs throughout B.C., including successful halfway houses in Kelowna and Kamloops, said Taylor.

1996, The Canadian Government commissioned an investigation on the government policy with respect to the historical nations of this country. The Co-chair of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples is famously quoted as saying; “The legacy of Canada’s Treatment of aboriginal people is one of waste, wasted potential, wasted money and wasted lives,” Taylor told council during her presentation.

Problems in Aboriginal Communities were related in large part to the intentional movement by the government to assimilate aboriginal people into society by requiring them to abandon their language, culture and heritage, she said.

Assimilation policies have done great damage, leaving a legacy of brokenness affecting aboriginal individuals, families and communities.

It concluded that “the justice system had failed Aboriginal peoples” and the key indicator of this failure was the steadily increasing over-representation of aboriginal people in Canadian penitentiaries and prisons, Taylor said.

Aboriginal Peoples make up about four per cent of Canadian society, however, they comprise about 20 per cent of the prison population.

The Commission stated all Canadians need to have a greater recognition and understanding of aboriginal community issues as well as aboriginal cultures and traditions, she said.

“We must ask ourselves as Canadians, what is our collective and individual responsibility when it comes to helping aboriginal communities, families and individuals to continue to heal from the damage that was done through these government policies?” she asked.

Taylor is hopeful local residents show up in large numbers to get questions answered and have a better idea of the facility during a public open house set for Tuesday, Feb. 14 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. at 7851 45 Street.

Weekend staff members would work four hours each day on the weekend and would check in regularly with residents and assist them to engage in social and recreational activities that promote healthy integration into the community, Taylor said.,

A private security company would also be hired to conduct regular checkups at the house as detailed in CSC protocol, including overnight checks, she said.

A high-tech security system, including numerous alarms and cameras, will also monitor when residents are there and ensure they are following house rules and protocol, she said.

If a resident tries to sneak out or isn’t where he is supposed to be, parole officers and authorities will be contacted and appropriate action will be taken, she said.

An Elder will be selected to work with residents and provided one-on-one counselling and support and will offer the opportunity to take part in cultural, spiritual and social activities available on the OIB reserve, including psychological and drug and alcohol counselling, sweat lodges, drumming classes, fishing, hunting, community events and language classes, she said.

Each resident will be supervised by his parole officer and will be able to access CSC programming as well, said Taylor. An aboriginal liaison officer will be closely involved with the residents and serve as an additional member of the case management team.

Each resident will be monitored regularly with respect to their progress as well as potential risk, said Taylor.

A close working relationship between CSC, the house leader, OIB chief and counsel will ensure residents meet the expectations set out by the parole board, said Taylor.

Once an offender who is interested in living at NK’Mip House approaches a eligibility date for release, an institutional parole officer will send a request to the Kelowna office requesting a community strategy be completed by a community parole officer.

A screening committee, made up of CSC staff, community members and key stakeholders will have an opportunity to screen the cases and determine if they are prepared to accept the offender into the halfway house.

A community assessment and strategy outlining the acceptance and expectations of the offender are then detailed.

Members of the screening committee will include numerous professionals from CSS, parole officers, psychologist, mental health nurse, police liaison, aboriginal community liaison officer and member at large from the public.

Staff hired will have to be aboriginal and fully qualified to meet the various job descriptions available, said Taylor. In the event a qualified aboriginal person does not express an interest in these positions, successful candidates would receive appropriate cultural and spiritual training in order to ensure the aboriginal integrity of the house and program is fulfilled, said Kelsey.

Offenders accepted into the program must adhere to a very strict set of rules and if they breach, they will be asked to leave or returned to prison if they commit any further offence, said Taylor.

“They can’t be 10 minutes late from being where they said they would be or we’ll make a call to the national office in Ottawa,” she said. “If a resident decides to sneak out for a couple of beers, they will be caught on camera. We will know what they are doing because of the cameras and monitoring systems.”

All offenders being sent to a halfway house are clearly informed they must abide by very strict rules and if they break the rules, police are contacted immediately, said Taylor.

Coun. Michael Ryan said most of the questions he wanted answered were answered during the presentation and he’s hopeful the community at large will support the program.

“I find this a very exciting program and I certainly know a lot more about it now than I did before this meeting,” he said.

Coun. Sue McKortoff agreed.

“You have answered most of the concerns I cared about and you have nothing to hide and the whole approach is very transparent … there are a lot of things I learned today,” she said.

Mayor Stu Wells said the fact a standing committee of seasoned professionals, including a member of the public, will determine who is selected for residency, is very important as is the fact no sex offenders would be considered.

It’s up to the OIB and CSC to engage in public discussions and perhaps some advertising to answer public concerns and ensure this halfway house can be successful for the residents and community at large, said Wells.

Coun. Michael Plante suggested CSC bring a successfully rehabilitated former offender who has gone through a similar program to meet members of the public during an upcoming open house on Feb. 14 at the proposed site.