Welcome Home Circle Receives First "Home"

By Tsionatiio

"The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members," Coretta Scott King.

The "Welcome Home Circle" (WHC) is a vision of tiny homes to help those who have been previously incarcerated; members of our community who are transitioning back into society. 'The Circle' is providing a sense of community with peer support and a safe living environment with the possibility of expanding to the northern portion of Akwesasne.

Jonel Beauvais, an Akwesasne community member whose story starts where not many like to admit, but to Jonel it would be a slight to not acknowledge the place where her vision started.

Her passion for this project started while she experienced one of her lowest points in life and endured an experience that was both eye-opening and devastating. Taking what she learned and went through to provide something that would help put a stop to the continuum of incarceration within Akwesasne, also by networking with programs such as Akwesasne's Neh Kanikonri:io Council, Community Change organization in Washington D.C. and many others.

The Welcome Home Circle was formed of people who have been incarcerated and wanted to make a change from their experience. It is clear that among the Akwesasne community we have an issue of not only having a number of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated community members, but also those considered as 'recidivists' a percentage of prisoners who are rearrested. This led to the idea of a 'good place' to stay that would help a person who was formerly incarcerated by welcoming them back into the community as a valuable member of Akwesasne.

Pray Lazore, a member of the Welcome Home Circle has graciously allowed the use of his property to build the tiny homes. Lazore works for Seven Dancers Coalition and runs the program, 'Standing the Trees Back Up' for men. The program offers peer support and cultural awareness. Also, he has been doing a 'welcoming the spirit home ceremony' where they participate in a 'sweat and wash' as a symbolic form of cleansing what they left behind such as jails, prison or rehabilitation. It has not only helped Lazore himself, but it continues to help community members. Akwesasronon are always welcome to join in others' welcoming home. Lazore said this allows community members to shed the bad and welcome the good back into them, also something about nature that helps the peace within. Lazore's biggest goal for the program is to have 4 to 6 tiny homes, solar powered and many gardens to help sustainability.

There's still a lot of logistics that are being worked out; taking in the natural growth of the project so it will be an easy transition for community members returning home that may have nothing to return to.

The basis of the project will give back to the community by giving a portion of the rent to the Akwesasne Freedom School and helping others within the community. The idea is to remind the formerly incarcerated that they are 'someone' and not just an inmate anymore and investing in self-worth.

The Welcome Home Circle would not have been able to bring in the tiny home without the help of Wally Ransom on December 29th and without the local Amish community for building the shell of the home. The WHC would like to say 'Niawenko:wa' to the many contributions to their Go-Fund-Me page, and a taco sale held by Marisa and Lorna Francis. The idea of utilizing funds within the community will help the Welcome Home Circle grow naturally and be governed by its community members. If you would like to make a donation or would like more information about the tiny home project, please contact Jonel Beauvais on Facebook or email [email protected]