Sask. woman who spent 30 years in prison system struggling with freedom

Odelia Quewezance is experiencing the most freedom she has had since being convicted of murder nearly three decades ago.

She is not mandated to stay in correctional centres and can travel anywhere in Saskatchewan. Instead, she chooses to spend most of her time in her bedroom.

"I'm always in my room, I feel safe in there ... it's a lot to get used to," she said, taking a moment to wipe tears away from her face with a tissue.  

"I just feel like it's a different world out here."

Odelia, 51, and her sister, Nerissa Quewezance, 48, have been part of the prison and parole system since 1993 when they were arrested for second-degree murder. 

In 1994, they were convicted of killing Anthony Joseph Dolff, who was a 70-year-old farmer from Kamsack, Sask.

The Quewezance sisters were conditionally released from custody in March 2023. They applied for a judicial review of their convictions — hoping federal officials will determine there was a miscarriage of justice in their case.

It could take years for the review to be complete.

During a visit to Keeseekoose First Nation in Saskatchewan, located about 235 kilometres northeast of Regina, Odelia spoke with CBC about the complications of adjusting to life outside of the correctional system and the importance she places on motherhood. 

Despite the conditional release, she said she still doesn't feel free and she doesn't know if she'll be able to until she can live without court-imposed conditions.

Odelia has spent the majority of her life confined to institutions — sleeping in beds that weren't her own. 

In her younger years, she had to spend five years at the Marieval Indian Residential School and the Lebret Indian Industrial Residential School. 

Then she spent years in prison. 

Eventually she was granted day-parole and weekend passes. On the days she was allowed to leave the correctional centre, she would travel hundreds of kilometres to visit her children and husband, Jay Koch.