Pine Grove Correcional Centre is located on the northeast outskirts of Prince Albert's City limits. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Corrections

‘We are human beings too’: Pine Grove inmate commits to hunger strike

Oct 13, 2022 | 5:11 PM

A woman who has been on remand at Prince Albert’s Pine Grove Correctional Centre for nearly five months said her hunger strike will continue until the concerns of inmates are properly addressed.

Faith Eagle, 42, has refused tray service for about four weeks, only consuming juice and soup broth when she gets shaky. Among the reasons for her actions, is in her words the state of the institution’s water. She told paNOW women have been getting boils from it.

“When you drink the water, sometimes it smells like sewage. For me personally, I drink hot water so I can drink water,” she said.

Also citing concerns related to black mold, Eagle acknowledged there is a process for inmates with complaints to request a complaint form from correctional officers.

“They always ask what is it for and if you don’t give a valid enough reason, they won’t give you one. So we haven’t been given one,” she explained.

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Eagle is originally from South Dakota but has most recently been living in Saskatoon. Her charges stem from that city, but she has yet to personally appear in court on them. Added to her concerns is the feeling that inmates at the men’s correctional are receiving better treatment.

“They get TVs in their rooms and we don’t. We are locked up all the time, it’s freezing in here. We don’t get treated like how they do and we just want to be looked at as human beings,” she said.

On Tuesday, Eagle said she had the opportunity to speak with her team leaders, but it went nowhere. She also explained it was only this week she was able to see a doctor for an abscessed tooth she’s had since being taken into custody.

“We are human beings too, and even though we are in jail, doesn’t mean we should be treated like we are filthy animals. We deserve clean water,” she said.

According to a statement provided by the Ministry of Corrections, the Ministry is aware that an inmate at the Pine Grove Correctional Centre is participating in a tray refusal.

“The Ministry is monitoring the situation and working to ensure the health and safety of the participating inmate,” the statement explained. “Inmates participating in tray refusals receive continued medical supervision, including regular doctor check-ups.”

Sydney Wouters, a prison in-reach worker and acting Executive Director for the Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan advised paNOW she was only made aware of the hunger strike Thursday morning.

“I have spoken to the woman affected regarding her hunger strike and her concerns/reasoning. I have had conversations with the administration as well,” she said.

Wouters relayed plans to go to Pine Grove Correctional Centre Friday afternoon to meet with the women on the unit as well, as facilitate a conversation with the women and management staff.

“I am hoping that this meeting will help rectify the situation and make the changes needed,” she said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell