Konyyl Okimaw from Hiveswap

Shared a heartfelt healing ceremony with Okimaw residents (inmates are not called such at Okimaw - and they have Cree names for many of the authority positions at the Lodge).  It was good for my students to hear their stories and share their understanding  of the social determinants of crime, first hand.

Guess what the most common crime is among residents?

Drug trafficking.  Big time drug trafficking in weed and cocaine.  I have many thoughts as to why a woman might engage in such behaviors but am more interested in the resilience strategies they use to get out.

Take this plant, for instance.  Something as simple and enjoyable as horticulture is part of the programming at Okimaw.  

We all need to eat, right?  So why not teach people how to grow their own food?  

Cross-pollination techniques are used to grow everything from Spider Plants to what Okimaw residents call the 'Cumkin' - a crossbred hybrid of a cucumber and a pumpkin.

Back story:  The residents in the horticulture program had a great idea and proposed it to their programmer, Jessica.  When she asked them if they thought it would really work, one resident looked at her and said: "Jessica, remind us again of what we're in here for?"

Wink wink, ladies.  Right on.