Child-killer has been at Nekaneet ceremonies, community: Chief

The killer of Tori Stafford has been at Okima Ohci Healing Lodge on Nekaneet territory for nine months.

This comes as a complete surprise to the Cree Nation in southern Saskatchewan, which hosts the female offenders at its ceremonies as part of their healing plans.

Chief Alvin Francis says band leadership is not privy to who is at the minimum/maximum security facility and why, but did recognize Terry-Lynne McClintic in a photo he saw Tuesday.

He said in a statement that Elders from Nekaneet need to be involved in the inmate selection process.

He suggested if the community knew in advance it may have been able to stop the transfer.

McClintic, who pleaded guilty in 2010  to murdering Stafford after her male co-accused raped the eight-year-old, was transferred from a maximum-security prison in Kitchener, Ont.

It is unclear if McClintic is Aboriginal and whether she requested the transfer because that information is protected under privacy legislation.

Chantal Guérette, a spokesperson for Correctional Service Canada (CSC), said the facility is open to offenders of all backgrounds as long as they embrace the core values and teachings.

“We include Aboriginal concepts of justice and reconciliation,” Guérette said.

“The approach to corrections is holistic and spiritual. Programs include guidance and support from Elders and Aboriginal communities.”

Guérette said CSC can move prisoners for a variety of reasons.

“Transfers are made to manage security requirements within an institution,” she added in an email.

“There are voluntary transfers, involuntary transfers and emergency transfers.”

Guérette noted a risk assessment would have been done on McClintic first.

But Stafford’s family is strongly opposed to the transfer.

“McClintic preyed upon vulnerable women to assault and killed an innocent child,” said Tori’s step-aunt Shawna Lea Fraser from Woodstock, Ont.

“She is a walking time bomb.”

Fraser said she suspects McClintic is taking advantage of Aboriginal healing practices to do easier time.

“She always looked for easy ways out – right up till the 11th-hour plea,” she told APTN

“She is unpredictable and I would hate to see anyone else harmed by her.”

Rodney Stafford is planning to protest McClintic’s transfer on Parliament Hill in November.

He said she was sentenced to serve life in a maximum security prison and shouldn’t be allowed to change it.

Meanwhile, Francis said the healing lodge is run by CSC independent of his community.

He said some Nekaneet members work there and the community accepts whomever attends its sun dances and sweat lodge ceremonies, relying on CSC to vet the level of risk.

He said community Elders were part of the inmate selection process but no longer after the federal funding was cut six years ago.

“We have no say on inmate selection, but I believe if our Elders were still a part of the process maybe Ms. McClintic wouldn’t be at the healing lodge,” he said in an emailed statement.

He said reinstating Nekaneet Elders could prevent issues like this from arising in the future.

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32 thoughts on “Child-killer has been at Nekaneet ceremonies, community: Chief

  1. J says:

    Why would they send a child-killer to some kind of aboriginal healing lodge. Don’t they realize a murderer belongs in prison? Why would a aboriginal healing lodge accept a child-killer to its healing lodge. This is really, really dumb and unacceptable.

  2. Why would they send a child-killer to some kind of aboriginal healing lodge. Don’t they realize a murderer belongs in prison? Why would a aboriginal healing lodge accept a child-killer to its healing lodge. This is really, really dumb and unacceptable.

  3. This is not justice. You do the crime, you do the time. It should not matter what colour you are, what race you are, what religion you are. That poor child has no lifeSend her back to PRISON now! Think what if it was your beautiful child. The liberal government and ndp agree with this from what I hear. Please all parties get together, send her back to prison

  4. This is not justice. You do the crime, you do the time. It should not matter what colour you are, what race you are, what religion you are. That poor child has no lifeSend her back to PRISON now! Think what if it was your beautiful child. The liberal government and ndp agree with this from what I hear. Please all parties get together, send her back to prison

  5. 25 years is not life, life is the pain the family of Tori will be going through for the rest of their lives. Unless you have lost a child you can’t know the pain. This child killer should be locked up for the rest of her life, not sent to a healing lodge, not ever considered for parole, she should be in prison until she dies. Why should she be given any consideration for rehabilitation after what she did to that child and what she put the family through. You do gooders out there, maybe you need to take a walk in the Stafford family shoes just to see what it is like, you may change your minds.

  6. 25 years is not life, life is the pain the family of Tori will be going through for the rest of their lives. Unless you have lost a child you can’t know the pain. This child killer should be locked up for the rest of her life, not sent to a healing lodge, not ever considered for parole, she should be in prison until she dies. Why should she be given any consideration for rehabilitation after what she did to that child and what she put the family through. You do gooders out there, maybe you need to take a walk in the Stafford family shoes just to see what it is like, you may change your minds.

  7. really dont care what her race is , its that fact she assisted in taking the life of a little girl. I feel she should be behind bars in a max . prison , she never gave a shit about the fear and pain this child felt so let her do the life she so rightfully deserves to complete. Shes beyond feeling any compassion for in this life time

  8. really dont care what her race is , its that fact she assisted in taking the life of a little girl. I feel she should be behind bars in a max . prison , she never gave a shit about the fear and pain this child felt so let her do the life she so rightfully deserves to complete. Shes beyond feeling any compassion for in this life time

  9. Our children are gifts of the creator. She was a child at one time and she was a gift to her mother too. She took a gift from parents and killed their gift. As women we are life givers. We embrace our role in society. It takes years for many to master this role, first as a child, a youth, a wife, a mother and grandmother. Our Elders teach us this role through teachings and ceremonies. Yes she has a right to heal. Will she have the right to exploit our Indigenous ways of being Indigenous women? Is she Indigenous? What is her expectations and thoughts about wanting to be in the Healing Lodge? A comment was made about the Healing Lodge as described as doing “easier time”. There is no easy time when you are on a healing journey. You have to look deep within, the good, the bad and the ugly. You have to admit the wrongs and the harms and except what you did. You have to journey through the deepest and darkest secrets in life and work through all the horrible things you did and done unto you. I hope she wil be able to demonstrate the behaviors of having moved forward and continuing the healing. Healing is not complete closure. It helps you accept and move foreward. Will she accept anything? Will she move foreward with those people she harmed? Those people she harmed need closure too and just as much healing if not more. Women are Life Givers and NOT Life Takers..we protect life. Let this route for her be genuine not one she thinks is going to support her time for early release. I think she should be tested by the elders for meeting all proper ways of doing ceremonies, has met with family and community she harmed, and follow and incorporate the traditonal ways of being Indigenous ib her daily living. This is not easy time. Lets think she can do the test of our creator. If not, there is spiritual justice…

  10. Our children are gifts of the creator. She was a child at one time and she was a gift to her mother too. She took a gift from parents and killed their gift. As women we are life givers. We embrace our role in society. It takes years for many to master this role, first as a child, a youth, a wife, a mother and grandmother. Our Elders teach us this role through teachings and ceremonies. Yes she has a right to heal. Will she have the right to exploit our Indigenous ways of being Indigenous women? Is she Indigenous? What is her expectations and thoughts about wanting to be in the Healing Lodge? A comment was made about the Healing Lodge as described as doing “easier time”. There is no easy time when you are on a healing journey. You have to look deep within, the good, the bad and the ugly. You have to admit the wrongs and the harms and except what you did. You have to journey through the deepest and darkest secrets in life and work through all the horrible things you did and done unto you. I hope she wil be able to demonstrate the behaviors of having moved forward and continuing the healing. Healing is not complete closure. It helps you accept and move foreward. Will she accept anything? Will she move foreward with those people she harmed? Those people she harmed need closure too and just as much healing if not more. Women are Life Givers and NOT Life Takers..we protect life. Let this route for her be genuine not one she thinks is going to support her time for early release. I think she should be tested by the elders for meeting all proper ways of doing ceremonies, has met with family and community she harmed, and follow and incorporate the traditonal ways of being Indigenous ib her daily living. This is not easy time. Lets think she can do the test of our creator. If not, there is spiritual justice…

  11. When did this discussion become about race and not about the girl that was killed. Where that woman should be is exactly where her lawyers and support can put her, the healing lodge is still a federal instutution on the reserve or not. You will have little say on who goes in there

  12. When did this discussion become about race and not about the girl that was killed. Where that woman should be is exactly where her lawyers and support can put her, the healing lodge is still a federal instutution on the reserve or not. You will have little say on who goes in there

  13. I really don’t understand why they would put a CHILD MURDER like her in a facility that is for healing .Terry- Lynne McClintic doesn’t deserve to be in a facility like that. She needs to be behind bars and never let out ,she is a monster for what she did . Here is why we need to bring back the death penalty .

  14. What next?? Paul Bernardo going to healing lodge? Ridiculous, this woman lured this little eight year old to get raped and murdered, what is CSC thinking?? She is conning everyone. Put her back in prison where she belongs. Maybe she got transferred to protect her….who cares? No one, no one cares about the hard time she’s having in jail. CHILD-KILLER!!!!!!

  15. I really don’t understand why they would put a CHILD MURDER like her in a facility that is for healing .Terry- Lynne McClintic doesn’t deserve to be in a facility like that. She needs to be behind bars and never let out ,she is a monster for what she did . Here is why we need to bring back the death penalty .

  16. What next?? Paul Bernardo going to healing lodge? Ridiculous, this woman lured this little eight year old to get raped and murdered, what is CSC thinking?? She is conning everyone. Put her back in prison where she belongs. Maybe she got transferred to protect her….who cares? No one, no one cares about the hard time she’s having in jail. CHILD-KILLER!!!!!!

  17. This is not a good thing.
    I’m sure there are many people that will consider this an affront to the MMIWG movement.
    Why will the average person care about the movement now ?
    She’s a White woman, not indigenous, why is she there ?

  18. Instead of all this ridiculous posturing and denying responsibility those in charge should show some good judgement and immediately move her back to the maximum security lock up she was given and her crime deserves.

  19. This is not a good thing.
    I’m sure there are many people that will consider this an affront to the MMIWG movement.
    Why will the average person care about the movement now ?
    She’s a White woman, not indigenous, why is she there ?

  20. Ms McLintic has every right to be at a healing lodge, just like everyone else imprisoned in a Canadian federal penitentiary. That she is in a healing lodge at all should be cheered by anyone concerned with corrections. What if she were released at year 15, untreated, and uneducated? Then, once out, began hanging out in parks, with her eyes on young children again. What if she’s in treatment for 5 years, then the parole board approves her for temporary escorted passes? Then unescorted passes? Then day parole? Isn’t that what happened with that Chinese guy in Manitoba? Only two years after he traumatized people nationally and world-wide by beheading his bus-mate and eating his victim’s brains, he began the process of gradual release and cascading. As he got better, healthier, the government board charged with assessing his level of risk gained confidence in him, and gradually released him. Today, he could be walking behind you as you cross the street, or as you grab your double-double at Tim’s. He could be the professor lecturing you on stoichiometry in your university chemistry class. He could be anyone in today’s world. There comes a time when everyone is considered for release. Few ever die in prison of old age. Does everyone have a right to be released? Even if they don’t, they have a right to participate in available programs in prison. Every one has a right to better oneself – even those ultimately destined for one of the circles of hell.

    1. She lost her rights when she committed premeditated murder.

      But if she wishes to better herself, she will have lots of time once she arrives in hell, as you pointed out.

    2. Did you really just compare her to someone with schizophrenia? Someone who committed a crime because he was insane? Someone who didn’t know the difference between right and wrong?
      Unbelievable

  21. Instead of all this ridiculous posturing and denying responsibility those in charge should show some good judgement and immediately move her back to the maximum security lock up she was given and her crime deserves.

  22. that’s messed up I have no clue if she is native, why was she even there canadians treat us first canadians like animals or terrorists that’s why people move back to the reserve because I grew up in the city and racism was overwhelming now we have people like her in our family’s or friend’s communities?

  23. Sincerest condolences to Tori’s family. I believe her aunt’s assessment that doing time in an Indigenous healing lodge is an “easy time”. It certainly does beg the question as to how it is that a member of Shawna’s colonial community is being accommodated in a centre whose aim is to address the correctional needs of Indigenous peoples if McClintic is not Aboriginal.

    I thought there was a huge line up of Indigenous women waiting to rightfully enter this facility. Maybe CSC can clear up that confusion or is this just another example of Indigenous dispossession?

  24. Ms McLintic has every right to be at a healing lodge, just like everyone else imprisoned in a Canadian federal penitentiary. That she is in a healing lodge at all should be cheered by anyone concerned with corrections. What if she were released at year 15, untreated, and uneducated? Then, once out, began hanging out in parks, with her eyes on young children again. What if she’s in treatment for 5 years, then the parole board approves her for temporary escorted passes? Then unescorted passes? Then day parole? Isn’t that what happened with that Chinese guy in Manitoba? Only two years after he traumatized people nationally and world-wide by beheading his bus-mate and eating his victim’s brains, he began the process of gradual release and cascading. As he got better, healthier, the government board charged with assessing his level of risk gained confidence in him, and gradually released him. Today, he could be walking behind you as you cross the street, or as you grab your double-double at Tim’s. He could be the professor lecturing you on stoichiometry in your university chemistry class. He could be anyone in today’s world. There comes a time when everyone is considered for release. Few ever die in prison of old age. Does everyone have a right to be released? Even if they don’t, they have a right to participate in available programs in prison. Every one has a right to better oneself – even those ultimately destined for one of the circles of hell.

    1. She lost her rights when she committed premeditated murder.

      But if she wishes to better herself, she will have lots of time once she arrives in hell, as you pointed out.

    2. Did you really just compare her to someone with schizophrenia? Someone who committed a crime because he was insane? Someone who didn’t know the difference between right and wrong?
      Unbelievable

  25. that’s messed up I have no clue if she is native, why was she even there canadians treat us first canadians like animals or terrorists that’s why people move back to the reserve because I grew up in the city and racism was overwhelming now we have people like her in our family’s or friend’s communities?

  26. Sincerest condolences to Tori’s family. I believe her aunt’s assessment that doing time in an Indigenous healing lodge is an “easy time”. It certainly does beg the question as to how it is that a member of Shawna’s colonial community is being accommodated in a centre whose aim is to address the correctional needs of Indigenous peoples if McClintic is not Aboriginal.

    I thought there was a huge line up of Indigenous women waiting to rightfully enter this facility. Maybe CSC can clear up that confusion or is this just another example of Indigenous dispossession?

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