RCMP probe vandalism, theft at healing centre

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This article was published 21/04/2023 (913 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RCMP are investigating after staff at Indigenous healing lodges west of Headingley reported their buildings had been broken into and vandalized.

Wa-Say Healing Centre executive director Wayne Mason Sr. said no one was on site last week when thieves made off with tools, tarps and sacred items.

“We can’t understand why people would come there and take things. It’s just unbelievable and it’s kind of depressing,” he said Friday. “That we’re trying to do something good all the time and something like this happens, it kind of knocks you back a little bit.”

Blood and human feces were found at the lodge, which is near Beaudry Provincial Park, when employees went there Thursday, Mason said. Wa-Say Healing Centre is based in downtown Winnipeg and the site is used as a healing space for ceremonies.

Lumber at the site of the lodge, which was meant to be used by youth to build a shed, was stolen weeks ago, Mason said.

“It’s way off the road, it’s a kilometre from the highway, and we’re right along the bush and the river. Why would people go all that way to do something like that?” he said.

RCMP have been notified and the centre plans to buy cameras. Mason did not want to speculate on whether the crime was racially motivated.

RCMP Cpl. Julie Courchaine said investigators planned to go to the site Friday.

Wa-Say is fielding calls from people who have volunteered to clean up the site and rebuild. They hope to do it quickly in preparation for a sun dance ceremony scheduled for August.

“We’re getting ready for that. We’ve got a lot of work to do, and we don’t need disruptions like this to cause more delays,” he said.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca