Inmates on hunger strike at Regina prison

Regina’s Provincial Correctional Centre.

By D.C. Fraser, Leader-Post March 2, 2015

REGINA — Fifteen inmates being held in a high-risk area of Regina’s Provincial Correctional Centre are on a hunger strike.

They’re protesting against the prison’s decision to refuse them access to cultural programming, such as sweat lodges, and access to the outdoors.

Joshua Bird, who has previously been locked up for manslaughter and is awaiting trial on a break-and-enter charge, is one of the inmates participating.  

“They don’t let us smudge or go to sweat lodges or pipe ceremonies; they deny us all our cultural rights,” said Bird, adding they’re on lockdown for most of the day and don’t have access to an exercise yard.

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Justice confirms the hunger strike.

“Right now, we’re having discussions with the offenders (who) are on that unit. Our staff (is) working with them to determine what the reasons are for the strike and we will attempt to address those concerns if possible,” said Drew Wilby, executive director of corporate affairs for the Ministry of Justice.

Bird told the Leader-Post Monday afternoon the inmates had only been told nurses would be checking them in 48 hours.

According to Bird and his lawyer, Bob Hrycan, this isn’t the first time concerns within the unit have been raised.

“They tell us to write letters to the director and nothing happens,” said Bird.

But Wilby said when concerns are raised, the ministry does its best to address the concerns, and that the issue of restriction on movement “would probably have been raised before.”

Because of safety and security risks, some privileges have to be taken away, according to Wilby. The inmates, some of whom have already been sentenced, in the unit have significant gang affiliations and are segregated because of concerns of compatibility with other inmates as well as their behaviour within the facility.

Hrycan said programming for prisoners on remand is virtually non-existent.

“It’s sad that an individual or a group of individuals have to go to this degree to make a simple point that they’re entitled to basic human dignities like religion. On the other hand, it’s positive in the sense that these are individuals who feel strongly enough about a part of their culture that they’re prepared to physically sacrifice for that.”

According to Wilby, the inmates have access to a general education degree program and violence-reduction program.

Bird said zero rehabilitation programs are made available to him and the inmates in his unit.

“They think they’re making the jail a safer place by locking us away, but actually they’re making us more violent and taking our human spirit away,” he said. “I don’t even feel human anymore.”

Bird hasn’t been outside once since arriving at the facility and doesn’t know when he will be again, he said.

“We’re just sitting down here becoming animals,” said Bird.

He said he’s taken part in traditional Cree ceremonies his entire life, and the hunger strike is “the only way to get stuff done around here.”

Hunger strikes have been used as leverage in prisons before, and Bird said he’s “probably ready to die” if it means fighting for cultural rights.

Wilby said that the timeline on how long the strike would go on for is up to the offenders who are taking part in it, but that safety would be the number one driver behind a resolution.

http://www.leaderpost.com/health/Inmates+hunger+strike+Regina+prison+Video/10855345/story.html