Let’s hope the permanent residents of Osoyoos don’t jump to any conclusions or make any assumptions now that it has been announced the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) is looking to open a five-bedroom halfway house here in town.
Chief Clarence Louie, who has earned the distinction of being one of the most respected First Nations leaders in Canada, made a presentation to Town of Osoyoos councillors Monday afternoon detailing his vision for NK’Mip House, which would be located on 45th Street heading up the mountain towards the Spirit Ridge housing development owned by OIB.
Louie was accompanied by Correctional Services Canada staff members Melissa Taylor, a regional director for aboriginal affairs, and area director Lorrie Kelsey, who answered all the tough questions presented by councillors.
First and foremost, Louie, Taylor and Kelsey made it very clear there are numerous similar halfway houses for aboriginal offenders spread across Canada, including residences in Kelowna and Kamloops, and the vast majority of them have operated quietly and successfully and become part of their respective communities.
The whole idea of the program is to allow aboriginal offenders who meet a strict set of criteria to attempt to integrate back into the community and society in general.
Those who would qualify to live at NK’ MIp House would have to find work, either the OIB or on their own.
A selection committee made up of professionals, including CSC staff, veteran social workers and at least one member of the public, would be in charge of selecting who qualifies to live at the halfway house.
As Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells pointed out, having this qualified selection committee in place and not allowing any registered sex offenders to be considered for the program, should quell the concerns of many residents.
Those selected to live in the halfway house will be encouraged to enroll in native counselling and spirituality programming and will have to answer to a qualified house leader and native Elder, who will be available to guide them and provide assistance.
Those residents who will be selected must agree to abide by a strict code of conduct and adhere to strict rules and regulations and if they refuse to play by the rules, those running the program will be able to take quick and appropriate action to have them removed and/or to contact the authorities.
There will be security cameras in place to ensure the residents are where they are supposed to be and a number of other checks and balances in place to ensure residents are abiding by the rules and doing their part to continue their rehabilitation.
As Louie said following the presentation to council, it’s very easy for people to say “not in my backyard” when it comes to programs like this.
The reality is more than 20 per cent of the prison population in Canada is made up of aboriginal offenders and many of them need a place to go and support programs in place to help them return to society peacefully and productively.
Hundreds of other halfway houses like this one are operating without any problems at all across this great country and there’s no reason NK’MIp House can’t become another success story associated with the Osoyoos Indian Band.
Anyone who has questions or concerns should show up at the open house scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 14 to see more of what is being offered and exactly how the halfway house will operate.
