By Jeff Labine

Cultural healing farm looking for permanent home

Jun 13, 2017 | 12:00 PM

The development of Prince Albert’s Indigenous Garden and Cultural Healing Farm is on hold for now, after parties involved could not agree to terms.

The Indian Metis Friendship Centre of Prince Albert is looking to setup a new facility at the old sanitarium site at North Park Centre. The city would only propose a one year trial, with the expectation the friendship centre would take care of the site’s maintenance. Council eventually decided staff would review the project and come back with a report on a permanent location.

John Hanikenne, president of the Coalition of Aboriginal Peoples in Saskatchewan, wasn’t a fan of the city’s initial proposal. He didn’t appreciate that after a year’s time, the land could potentially be sold off forcing the healing farm to find a new home.

“I would hate to see us get into a lot of cleaning and then it is gone for sale to someone else,” he said. “I would hope that if it would be the wish of council, that we can find another suitable location. For me it hits my heart to have a place like this in our community.”

He explained the healing farm has a lot of partners in place including post-secondary institutions to ensure its success. But the location has to be someplace relatively private and away from the city, he said.

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“You can’t have a sweat lodge in the middle of the city,” he added.

Mayor Greg Dionne agreed and suggested plots of land north of the Saskatchewan River be considered including Little Red River Park, which has been the site of culture camps in the past.

Ward 5 Coun. Dennis Ogrodnick praised the work to develop the program and the efforts by the friendship centre.

“It is not just for our Indigenous population that needs cultural healing,” he added.

The report is expected to come to council July 4. 

The healing farm is a place specifically for addicts to turn their worlds’ around. The housing-first initiative is meant to provide addictions treatment, while teaching practical skills surrounding farming and agriculture.

Jeff.labine@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @labinereporter