By Bryan Eneas

PREVAIL brings cultural programming to those with disabilities

Apr 11, 2017 | 5:36 PM

Spinal Cord Injury Saskatchewan (SCIS) has been in existence for 50 years in the prairies – now, they are bringing more services to the gateway to the North.

Purpose equals Respect Educate Validate Accessible Inclusive Life or PREVAIL, is a program which incorporates Indigenous healing perspectives into the lives of those with spinal injuries or mobility challenges.

“[PREVAIL is] about rekindling spirits I think – more or less just giving people the tools to move forward after a spinal cord injury or other health mobility related challenges,” Connie Farber the aboriginal engagement co-ordinator for SCIS said.  

On April 11, the PREVAIL program officially kicked off with a sharing circle at Parkland Hall in Prince Albert, the first city where SCIS introduce such a program.

“We wanted to set something up here that would be unique to our population,” Farber said. “This is unique here because it will be addressing individual’s challenges they face here on a daily basis.”

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Farber said the PREVAIL program came about after SCIC’s executive director took notice of the gap in services offered by the organization in Prince Albert.

The sharing circles are headed by Thunderchild First Nation Elder Windlightning Woman, or Rosemarie Bird as she’s known in her English name.

Bird said when she became a grandmother pipe carrier, Gordon Oakes, who passed along her pipe asked her to “go out and help the people,” and it’s a duty she’s taken very seriously over the last 17 years.

She volunteers her time with the Pinegrove Correctional Facility, as well as SaskPolytechnic and the First Nations University one day per week. She was asked by Farber to help with the PREVAIL program, and she couldn’t turn it down.

“Circles are very sacred ceremonies,” Bird said. “In [Cree] culture the circle is very sacred. We always sit in a circle when we do anything.”

Bird said those who wish to share are welcome to speak about positive or negative experiences – all are welcome to share within a healing, sharing or talking circle.

“[If] they don’t want to speak, they don’t have to,” Bird said. “But if they keep coming back, they eventually end up speaking because [they] want to share.”

The PREVAIL program will be meeting at Parkland Hall for the next 24 weeks on Tuesdays.

Starting on May 2, drumming and singing will be incorporated into the circles.

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas