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 Premier Paul Okalik, second from left, and Kugluktuk MLA Joe Allen Evyagotailak, right, officially opened the Ilavut Correctional Healing Centre for low-risk offenders in Kugluktuk on April 4. - photo courtesy of the Department of Justice |
The Ilavut Centre in Kugluktuk was officially opened with a ceremony featuring drum dancing, a feast and a visit by the premier and MLAs on April 2.
Five inmates, who were incarcerated in Yellowknife and Fort Smith, have begun moving in to the facility, which can house up to 16 low-risk offenders for short-term stays. The focus at this new centre is on healing.
"There has been concern for many years about our people going out (to jails in the NWT) and repeat offenders. We noticed that these guys keep going out, but they aren't getting rehabilitated," said Joanne Taptuna, a Kugluktuk town councillor who has pushed for a correctional centre in Kugluktuk since the mid-1990s.
"We started talking about getting our own facility to treat our people," Taptuna said. "We felt that once they found it within themselves to get help, getting help from their own people might work."
Const. Chad Zummack in Kugluktuk attended the opening. He said while they would rather have no offenders at all, it is good to see the community take this pro-active step to address the healing needs of their own offenders.
"We are looking forward to seeing how it's going to run," Zummack said.
Premier Paul Okalik said elders will be part of the team helping offenders come to grips with their problems. The centre has created 12 new jobs in the community.
"Community elders will play a significant role in teaching and reconnecting the centre's inmates with Inuit traditions and societal values," said Okalik.
Land trips will be a large component of the treatment, Taptuna added.
Respected elder Joseph Niptanatiak told the guests during the opening that he thinks the centre will be effective for the younger offenders and the repeat offenders.
The centre will also offer help to family and friends of the offenders.
"We can work with them, too, so they can start making a change when their family member returns," explained Taptuna. "Instead of people pointing fingers, they can help him change his life."
