Although many felt Morrison was beyond redemption, officials at Okimaw Ohci saw potential in her and brought her to the lodge. She has participated enthusiastically in all programs and has complied with various interview and speech requests, including a talk about her life at a United Church children's camp this fall. Morrison said if she would have served the rest of her time in Kingston, she would have eventually fallen back into the drug and crime scene. She and the other residents are at the lodge because they want to learn to cope with their problems, she said. Five cats also wander the grounds, and there are plans to bring is a couple of horses.
Society is generally discriminatory.
We want to give the women the tools to heal, to help them find their identity as aboriginal women. When they leave here, we hope they can cope better and won't come into conflict with the law. Then they won't be a burden to society. I think most of them will make it. Aside from daily meetings with Cree, Sioux, and other elders, psychologist Val Howard works with the women three days a week.