News and Archives

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary’s SAGE Emotional Wellness and Employment Readiness program assists women on their journey to personal success. The program is built on Indigenous cultural values that provide support and healing; interactive and experiential learning provide participants with reconnection to their culture. Each week, participants spend 23 hours with Kachina Raymond-McGillis, the SAGE Coordinator, learning both functional life skills and strategies to promote emotional wellness—including writing, art, and photography. Participants also engage in employment skills that better prepare them for their next steps after SAGE. Over the 12-week program, participants gain new confidence and tools to assist them on their new journey. We sat down with Volelle Bull to discuss how the SAGE program has facilitated her personal growth over the last couple of months.

Sharing only as much as you feel comfortable, can you tell us a bit about yourself and what lead you to work with SAGE?

I wanted to get in touch with my culture and boost my self-confidence. I also wanted to gain knowledge I could use for finding employment since it has been over a year since I last worked.

What has been your favourite activity or day you have had at SAGE?

I appreciated working on my public speaking and interview skills as I gained confidence through my ability to practice.

Will you be taking courses at Bow Valley College and if so, what area of study do you plan on taking?

Yes, I plan on completing Aboriginal Upgrading and then moving on to Addictions Studies.

What does an average day at SAGE look like?

The average day consists of morning smudge, check in, then learning, fun and laughter.

Has SAGE connected you with any other community resources that you have either used or plan on using in the future?

Yes, we had the opportunity to start volunteering at WINS (Women in Need Society) through the job shadow portion. I also went on a tour of Bow Valley College which allowed me to get comfortable with the staff and campus before applying.

Have you felt your confidence increase with your time with SAGE?

Yes, it has helped me build a routine that helps me get up in the morning and then out of the house into the public which I was not comfortable doing before.

What is the #1 skill or teaching you have learned at SAGE?

Public speaking, meeting new people and how to open up in a group setting. I struggled with interview questions the most and now I am feeling more comfortable. I want to push myself to get out and complete some interviews so I can continue working on gaining confidence.

Do you feel that SAGE has given you the tools to navigate an easier future or increased your resiliency to any difficult situations that will arise?  

Yes, it has helped me get out of my comfort zone and I have more confidence to take the next steps on my journey.

Do you feel like you have used any skills learned at SAGE in your daily life?

Yes, I have created a routine for myself and feel more confident connecting with new people.

The Calgary Indigenous Court (CIC) officially opened on September 4, 2019 after 18 months of consultation with Indigenous leaders and stakeholders. Operating weekly, the court will primarily deal with bail and sentencing hearings, concentrating on a restorative justice approach to crime while incorporating Indigenous traditions.

Modelled after a teepee, the courtroom is arranged in a circle, in which judges, victims, offenders, and lawyers sit at the same level so that each party is an equal participant in the judicial process. Four judges with deep ties to First Nations communities preside over the process and include stakeholders, such as Efry, Homefront, Calgary Legal Guidance and Native Counselling Services, to take part in the legal proceedings. Paying homage to Indigenous culture, Alberta Justice provides the option for witnesses to swear their oath with an eagle feather instead of a traditional bible and the courtroom has special ventilation to allow for burning of medicines for special events and ceremony.

Indigenous people are disproportionately represented in both federal and provincial institutions across Canada. Despite only accounting for 4.3% of the total Canadian population, Indigenous adults account for just over 1 in 4 of total admission to provincial and territorial and federal correctional services. Specifically in Alberta, 6.2% of the provincial population is Indigenous, however, current Indigenous incarceration rates in Alberta are unknown as the province has not released this data since 2012. It is the only province in Canada where this information is not publicly available. At the last reporting, Alberta had the most disproportionately high level of Indigenous incarceration and the previous government have acknowledged this overrepresentation.

The CIC is an effort to address these numbers and create alternatives to jail and prison time by implementing recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as well as the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) report. The colonial justice system and Criminal Code itself have not adequately managed crime involving Indigenous people and as a colonial system has not honoured the Indigenous traditions of reconciliation and restorative justice. Judge Eugene Creighton, the provincial court judge that presided over the opening ceremony, discussed the Blackfoot language saying, “We don’t have a word for crime. Our word is mistake.”

With a focus on cultural supports, peacemaking and joining Indigenous clients with the appropriate resources, including Elders, the CIC’s primary goal is restorative justice, rather than punitive justice. Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer stated that the UCP government supports different types of court models. Schweitzer elaborated, “Simply locking people up and throwing away the key is not the path forward, we have to make sure we’re innovative. What’s hurting people, how do we get those issues resolved?” By connecting Indigenous people in vulnerable situations with their community and culture, they find a space where they feel like they belong and the possibility of relapse becomes less likely.

Sure, you know about Orange is the New Black, but how much do you know about the real Piper? She’s an advocate for prisoners, and her message is one that we can’t wait to hear….. and you’re invited!

Download our invitation here and be sure to get your tickets early!