Home / Crime and Justice / Elders Fired After Reporting Ceremony Disrespect
Elders Fired After Reporting Ceremony Disrespect
12 Dec
Summary
- Elders allege staff disrespected sacred Indigenous practices at a cultural camp.
- They claim their contracts were terminated in retaliation for raising concerns.
- Youth at the facility now lack elder support due to the firings.
Two elders were dismissed from the Paul Dojack Youth Centre in Regina following a dispute over alleged disrespect of Indigenous cultural protocols during an October camp. Elder Melanie Fisher stated that she and fellow elder Calvin Pelletier reported staff for violating spiritual beliefs, including during a sweat lodge ceremony. They allege their concerns were not adequately addressed by the administration.
Following their formal complaint to the Ministry of Community Safety, the elders received notice that their contracts were terminated in early December, months before their scheduled expiry. Fisher described the firings as "plain retaliation" for speaking out about the issues, noting that youth at the centre have been without elder support since their dismissal.
The ministry has stated it cannot comment on personnel matters but affirmed its commitment to cultural awareness and learning at the facility. It also indicated ongoing efforts to ensure elder support remains available for youth and staff, though a spokesperson confirmed no elders are currently employed by the facility.
