SPRUCE HOME - Several inmates at Pine Grove Correctional Centre in Spruce Home, near Prince Albert, have been taking part in a hunger strike to raise awareness of a number of their concerns, including drinking water quality at the facility.
Prisoners' advocate Sherri Gordon sent a letter to the province advising them of the strike.
The protest comes days after the Saskatchewan Ombudsman's Office asked inmates to advise them of their concerns about Pine Grove Correctional Centre for a report being undertaken.
Gordon previously started a GoFundMe account to raise funds to support Pine Grove inmates.
She said in a statement to Â鶹´«Ã½AV.ca that women in Unit 4 at Pine Grove started refusing meal trays on Aug. 2. They plan to continue their hunger strike until their concerns are addressed.
On the issue of the quality of water served at the facility, she said: "Water is an essential and these women should have access to clean water, but they do not. Women are getting sick from it, getting flakes on the scalp and boils on their skin."
Gordon said in addition to protesting the water quality at the facility, the inmates are also upset about the way Indigenous women are treated there.
She noted when the women complain to correctional officers, they are instead written up.
Gordon said that the Indigenous women at Pine Grove are also not able to practice their culture.
"These women are not able to see an Elder for months now," she said. "Culture is a very important part of healing. Seeing an Elder could help heal many of these women who suffer from addictions and trauma. Not having access to their culture is a violation, and something they should not be denied but are."
Gordon said the inmates want to see improvements to communication at the facility, while adding that staff need to take a cultural training course "so they know the culture and history of he Indigenous people that they work with."
She notes the quality of water has been an issue at the facility for a long time. She says a former inmate, Faith Eagle, was on a lengthy hunger strike before "to fight to get better conditions for the women of Pine Grove."
Gordon, who is also a founder of Beyond Prison Walls Canada Society, said Saturday, Aug. 10 marks Prisoners' Justice Day in Canada so the importance of addressing the inmates' concerns is especially significant at this time.
Faith Eagle, a former inmate at Pine Grove, previously went on a four-month hunger strike for the same issues as those in the current hunger strike.
She said the drinking water at Pine Grove also has an unpleasant odour that is a concern.
"You get stomach aches, you get bloated," Eagle told Â鶹´«Ã½AV.
She said when inmates ask about the water, the reply they hear is only that testings have been done.
Eagle believes about six people are currently taking part in the hunger strike.
She notes Indigenous prisoners are also discriminated against in Pine Grove. Overcrowding is also an issue, she said. She adds the cells are dirty, as another issue.
Eagle said she has recently spoken to the Ombudsman's office about the issue.
"They called me to hear what was going on in there," she said.
Gordon has also reached out to the Ombudsman office and the province about the hunger strike underway.
Eagle said the Go Fund Me fundraiser will also help purchase water and beverages for the inmates and to help pay for inmates' phone calls to family.
She hopes the hunger strikes help make positive change for the inmates.
"There are simple solutions," Eagle said. "If they would just listen to us. They might say we're problematic but there are simple solutions."
She said better communication is needed, and so is the need to treat Indigenous people fairly and respectfully.
"It's like you're not allowed to have a voice in there," she adds.
Eagle also notes that inmates need better treatment overall. If they want to be taken for medical treatment, she said they are basically ignored when they make their request.
"They [the staff] don't take you seriously at all," she he said. "They just let you suffer."
Overcrowding in the cells is also an issue, she said.
Eagle notes those taking part in the hunger strike were still not eating their meals Aug. 6 as the strike continues.
Province responds to inmates' concerns
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety responded to inmates' issues in a statement to Â鶹´«Ã½AV..
On the hunger strike, the ministry said that on Aug. 2, five inmates refused their trays at lunch and supper. As of August 6, all inmates are again accepting meal trays.
The province added that "inmates in provincial correctional centres are all subject to the same processes, conditions and treatment, regardless of cultural background or identity."
The Ministry added that it continues to provide "culturally appropriate programs, activities and resources for Indigenous offenders."
"Our primary concern in all our correctional facilities is the safety of the inmates, the staff and the public," the province said.
When looking at capacity, the province said if capacity at the correctional centre is exceeded, Corrections can use contingency spaces in order to increase capacity.
Since December of 2023, the Ministry noted it has taken actions to mitigate space pressures at Pine Grove Correctional Centre by making 48 beds available at other facilities. As a result of these efforts, there are currently 221 women incarcerated in Pine Grove, 60 fewer than at the end of June.
On the water quality at Pine Grove, the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement (SBP) said in a statement to Â鶹´«Ã½AV it is not aware of any issues.
“Consistent with the Waterworks and Sewage Works Regulations, which are regulated by Water Security Agency and the Ministry of Environment, water requires testing only after completion, alteration, extension or repair of water distribution works. It also requires testing when it is shut off either by a city, government, or after a water main break when there could be contamination entering the line," the Ministry said.
It noted the City of Prince Albert supplies potable water to the Pine Grove Correctional Centre.
"The Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement is not aware of any concerns or issues with the water quality at the Pine Grove Correctional Centre. No known issues impacting water quality with the main water supply or distribution system in the facility currently exist," the Ministry noted.
Also, there are no advisories in place that affects Pine Grove Correctional Centre in Prince Albert. SBP also conducted water testing at the end of February 2024 and all testing came back within the Saskatchewan Drinking Water Guidelines.
"The Ministry is actioning supplementary water testing as a precautionary measure to confirm the water quality," the Ministry stated. "Government’s priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of staff and inmates.”
