Elder Michael

In that darkness.

It's hard for them because they've come from places where lots of dark things have happened. And in that darkness, it's hard to see. It's hard to see positivity.

Pathways to Healing

Michael
Indigenous Elder

Bonjour, my name is Mike Couchie.

Talking to the men about who they are and where they're going and where they've come from.

Reconnect

And getting them to understand that their history is important. They still have time to reconnect with their families, with their communities, with their nation and with themselves. To do good work.

Truth

To me, it's seeing them shed that skin of the institution. And realize again, what is the truth of their life?

Good

And it's hard work for them. It's hard work to do that. They've come out of communities and families and nations that struggle to see the good in themselves, see the good in their own culture, and to reconnect with that culture. Because it does hold truth. It holds truth and kindness and a balance.

Balance

But it is hard work. It's hard to be a Anishinaabe. It's not easy work. But as an elder working with them, is to be able to be a role model. Be a role model for them to say, "Yeah, you can do this.”

Changing lives.

Protecting Canadians.