'I'm able to be me': STR8 UP offering free tattoo removal services to former gang members

It's not uncommon for people to regret some of the tattoos they got when they were younger. But some tattoos are more important to leave behind than others. 

STR8 UP in Saskatoon helps children and adults leave gangs safely, and supports their ongoing healing. Now, thanks to provincial funding, STR8UP is able to offer people a way to shed unwanted gang tattoos as well.

Saskatoon resident Sandatana Longneck-Couillonneur, 27, joined a gang when she was about 15 years old. Just over a year later, she got a tattoo of a bandana on her arm. Longneck-Couillonneur said it felt special to be in a close-knit group, and getting the bandana tattoo was a way to connect her to the gang.

"I thought it would be cool to put it on my body, to have it be a symbol, to be recognized, to be known that I was a part of that gang," said Longneck-Couillonneur, who felt like she was part of a loving family at the time. 

But as the years went by, Longneck-Couillonneur wanted to get away from the gang violence. She also had a baby in her late teens and said she didn't want to be a "rough mom."

"I was so stuck in those teen years wanting to be a part of that life and run around in the streets. I just basically put a stop to it. I said, 'Look, this is enough. This ain't me no more. Like, what kind of life and future are you going to provide for your children?" said Longneck-Couillonneur.

"I didn't want to give them the example of that, to see their mother as a gangster."

She said she has worked hard not to get pulled back into gang life, and has since had three more children. 

STR8 UP was able to procure a tattoo removal laser earlier this year, thanks to money from the province's gang violence reduction strategy. The organization has a three-year contract with the province, and receives $1.1 million each year to provide services like this one. 

Removing tattoos is an expensive process. Depending on the size of the tattoo, laser removal can cost between $100 and $500 per session. Those numbers come from a handful of Regina and Saskatoon businesses that offer tattoo removal, and STR8 UP confirmed the accuracy of those price points to CBC.

"Free tattoo removal has always been in the back of our minds because there was always a need that we had with the individuals who access us for support," said Russ Misskey, executive director of STR8 UP.

A complete tattoo removal can take anywhere from six to 12 sessions. For many who are recovering from leaving gangs or drugs, working low-paying jobs after being in and out of jail, or working their way through school while raising children at the same time, paying for tattoo removal is a luxury they cannot afford, Misskey said. 

When Longneck-Couillonneur learned about STR8 UP's free tattoo removal program, she said it felt like a chance to get her body back. She was tired of having to explain the tattoo to friends, partners and potential employers.

Longneck-Couillonneur has now had two removal sessions, and is thrilled to see the unwanted tattoo fade.