After more than two years since it was started, the totem pole carved by inmates at the Vancouver Island Regional Corrections Centre in Saanich now stands as a reminder to those on the outside that true rehabilitation is happening inside.

Elders, community leaders and local First Nations members converged near the facility害羞草研究所檚 entrance May 11 to dedicate the pole, as well as honour the roughly 160 inmates who 害羞草研究所� even if only briefly 害羞草研究所� helped shape the 340-year-old cedar log from the Jordan River area.

Max Henry, the jail害羞草研究所檚 Indigenous cultural liaison, said he has seen remarkable change in some of the inmates, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, as a result of participating in the project over the past two years.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a small step towards bringing back our cultural teachings, the ways of our elders and peoples, as opposed to just putting inmates in a cell and letting them serve time. It gives them a purpose,害羞草研究所� he said.

Henry brought forward and led the project with help from Tsawout First Nation carver Tom LaFortune, his two brothers Aubrey and Perry LaFortune and late elder Max Henry Sr., to whom the totem pole was dedicated during Thursday害羞草研究所檚 ceremony.

Intricately etched into the totem pole are images of the eagle, the owl, the wolf, the frog, the beaver 害羞草研究所� all important symbols of strength, healing, community and family 害羞草研究所� and four paddles representing the Coast Salish, Nu-Chah-Nulth, Kwakwaka害羞草研究所檞akw peoples and non-First Nation peoples.

害羞草研究所淭his is a surreal moment for me,害羞草研究所� said former inmate Eddy Cliffe, who now works alongside LaFortune in his Greater Victoria workshop.

害羞草研究所淭his pole changed my life in many different ways 害羞草研究所� it made me a better friend, it made me a better father and made me a better human all together.害羞草研究所�

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