Healing Camp for Justice leaves Saskatoon park, looks to the future

SASKATOON The tee pee had already been disassembled and the remaining camp supplies had been packed away by late morning on Friday, ending the 10-day Healing Camp for Justice in Saskatoon’s Victoria Park.

The camp, organized by Chris Martell, started on July 10 and had a permit to remain there until July 20. The camp’s aim was to provide a healing space for people who endured painful experiences in the foster care system. Martell’s son, Evander Daniels, died at a foster home in 2010.

Longtime friend Darla Fourstar, a residential school survivor who entered the foster care system at the age of four, called the experience of participating in the camp “amazingly overwhelming.”

“We had such good feelings, good feedback from the people,” she said, recalling a woman who sat with her and said it felt like they weren’t in the city.

“That touched me.”

Martell said about 250 people joined daily healing circles at the camp.

Fourstar said taking part in the camp has helped her. Children and parents go through trauma when kids are placed in foster care, she said.

“I know healing is healthy the traditional way. I started with this that way, and I brought it over to concentrating on foster care; awareness is important to me. I focus on it a lot and Chris and I are going to do some more, we’re going to hear some stories,” she said.

There is talk about hosting similar events in future years.

Gerald Daniels, Martell’s uncle, said the group would like the city to designate a cultural area in the park — a place where a similar camp could be held annually. He said a formal request may be made at some time in the future.

The city is looking to address requests for a cultural space in the urban setting, said Gilles Dorval, Saskatoon’s director of Aboriginal relations. It was raised during a gathering in 2015 and is something the city plans to address, he said.

The city has had preliminary discussion son where such a cultural space could go.

“It’s something when you look at sharing public spaces and places, we need to be cognizant of other demands that will be placed on the city, but also recognizing the need for cultural safe space, as well,” Dorval said.

I started with this that way, and I brought it over to concentrating on foster care; awareness is important to me.