A smoking ceremony has been approved on Hakea Prison grounds for an Indigenous man who died whilst incarcerated last year.
The family of Ricky Lee Cound, 22, who passed away in Hakea Prison on 25 March 2022, have been fighting to have a cultural smoking ceremony since July last year.
Previously, the family's wishes were shut down as Hakea's Assistant Commissioner Custodial Operations, Susan Rowley, wanted the traditional practice to take place off Prison grounds.
In a surprising change in events the grieving family have been granted approval to go ahead with the smoking ceremony at Hakea Prison next Wednesday, August 16 at 10:30am.
Mr Cound's mother Laura and four of her siblings will be permitted to go into the prison with an Aboriginal Elder to bring out Mr Cound's spirit so he can return to the dreaming.
The development comes after multiple meetings with government officials and a long, tiring and emotional process from Mr Cound's loved ones.
Mr Cound arrived at Hakea Prison after he was transferred from Acacia Prison a week after a riot on February 27.
It is believed he spent two weeks in lockdown in an area referred to as 'down the back' that has been said to have no showers in the cells and 'lack any environmental enrichment'.
Once Mr Cound was released into the general population, he was placed into isolation again when he contracted COVID.
He took his own life while in isolation.
His mother revealed last year that she contacted the Aboriginal Visitors Scheme two weeks before her son died because she was concerned for his welfare as her son had been self-harming while in the Acacia facility.
"My boy died in custody and I was crying out for help," Ms Cound said.
She further alleged prison officers ignored her son's pleas to go into crisis care on the day of his death.
Ms Cound said the prison's superintendent did not return her calls and previous calls for help had fallen on deaf ears.
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