Know Justice Blair Roberts

Each February, folks across Saskatchewan recognize Indigenous Storytelling Month. It’s an opportunity to celebrate First Nations, Metis and Inuit culture, and the rich history of storytelling in their communities. We wanted to close out this special month by sharing some Indigenous justice stories, told by Indigenous students.

In partnership with Professor Trish Elliott and her Indigenous Communications Arts program at First Nations University, all stories and interviews in this episode were produced by students at First Nations University. They did an excellent job, and we are honoured to share these stories on the Know Justice podcast. We hope you enjoy listening!

New episode of Know Justice out now!

"This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?"

If you're of a certain age, you'll remember these commercials of eggs on a frying pan well from your childhood. Maybe you remember the D.A.R.E. program in elementary schools (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). For all the public awareness campaigns we grew up with, the crisis around drugs and overdose isn't going away.

We can't arrest our way out of this problem, and we definitely can't ignore it. This episode examines the painful, lasting impacts of drug addiction and its connection to incarceration. We talk harm reduction, the need for a health lens in dealing with addiction, and we'll examine the value of every human life through first hand experience.

It might feel dark, but there is hope! You'll hear it in the strength of our guests today. Tune in!

What is life like after exiting prison? Starting over isn't easy. Those who are released from prison face all sorts of challenges as they work to reintegrate back into community. This can be difficult for individuals, as they navigate a system that doesn't always set them up for success. Most inmates will return to their communities. So we have to decide. Do we want them to succeed, or are we satisfied with the status quo?

In part one of this series, we examine housing and homelessness after incarceration through the voices and stories of frontline workers and those with lived experience. Listen up and learn along with us!

CONTENT WARNING
This episode contains discussion around suicidal thoughts. If you are not in a place to listen, please consider skipping this episode.

"The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking." -Albert Einstein

Is change possible in the Canadian prison system? If so, it starts with changing our way of thinking. Then, we must put our new knowledge into action. Systemic change isn't easy, but it is necessary, and it is possible.

There’s nothing quite like a mother’s love for her child. It’s fierce. Protective. The perfect mix of strength and softness blended together. On today’s episode, two mothers share their stories about what it’s like to have a child in prison and the lengths they will go to support them. We explore the impact of incarceration on families, specifically in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak and the love a mother has for her son.

In this inaugural episode of Know Justice, host Blair Roberts introduces you to the podcast and the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan. We dive into deeper conversation around prisoner rights and why its important we as a society recognize and advocate for them. We interview Pierre Hawkins, Public Legal Counsel at John Howard Society of Saskatchewan, to learn more about his work supporting inmates with discipline issues while they are in prison.

Thanks for joining us for episode 1!