ROSE VALLEY, Sask.–Native elders are recommending a Saskatchewan father serve a life sentence of spiritual guidance and healing instead of time behind bars for the freezing deaths of his two young girls.

During five hours of emotional discussion, most of the two dozen participants in a sentencing circle for Christopher Pauchay spoke of forgiveness and helping each other to move on.

"How can we begin a community healing if we are apart from one another – if he's not here with us?" asked elder Howard Walker.

Walker said he has worked in jails across the country and believes Pauchay can only be rehabilitated at home.

"Every day you must think of your little girls – that's punishment enough," said elder Evelyn Burns.

A barely audible Pauchay tried several times to address the circle being held in the Rose Valley town hall close to his home on the Yellow Quill First Nation.

At first, the 25-year-old managed to speak only briefly between sobs about how much he loved his girls and cared for them when they were sick.

"I'll say sorry every day of my life," he told the circle.

Later, raising his voice, he spoke about his third daughter, born a few months after the tragedy. Social Services has since put her into foster care.

"That's all I had left and you took her away. My rights didn't matter," Pauchay said.

His common-law wife, Tracey Jimmy, also spoke with anger about losing her new baby, named Miracle.

Jimmy said she's also upset she can't see or talk to Pauchay because of a court restraining order. Pauchay faces a further charge of domestic assault against her.

"He was just such a good dad. I just love him and you guys are taking him away from me – the only person who can actually feel what I'm feeling," Jimmy said through tears, sitting across the circle from Pauchay.

"What kind of society is that?"

It was January 2008 when Pauchay and Jimmy had an argument. Jimmy went off drinking, and Pauchay was left at home to care for their two children.

In the middle of the night, during a freezing blizzard, he left home with his daughters and got lost as he stumbled drunk in the snow. Kaydance, 3, and Santana, 15 months, were found hours later buried under snowdrifts.

They were wearing only diapers and T-shirts.

Pauchay pleaded guilty in November to criminal negligence causing death. His lawyer told the court he doesn't remember much of what happened that night.

Provincial court Judge Barry Morgan, who also sat in the circle, said he can't promise he will follow the recommendations but will consider them closely.

"What I have to do is balance a number of things," Morgan said. ``I promise I will do my best with that."

Morgan said he will give his final sentencing decision on March 6.

The Crown, comparing the case to child abuse, has already indicated it wants Pauchay to serve 2 1/2 to five years in prison. The defence believes he has suffered enough and should receive a conditional sentence.

"Regardless of what happens as a result of this process, the community of Yellow Quill will continue to support Chris and Tracey," Chief Larry Cachene later told reporters.

He wouldn't say whether he supports a community sentence but said aboriginal people regularly fail when they enter the justice system.

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"Rarely do they find healing and rehabilitation."

Raj Hartharamini, a mental health worker on the reserve, outlined a plan for a community sentence that would see both Pauchay and Jimmy enter rehabilitation programs for their drinking problems.

He said a team of volunteers would also be on-call 24-hours a day to help support Pauchay, and the reserve would offer programs for parenting and life skills.

Pauchay's stepmother, Jo Anne Machiskinic, said she's angry that the two girls had to die before people started to face their drinking problems on the reserve.

"I felt at the time why does it always take something this bad to make people open their eyes."

But Machiskinic said she's not mad at Pauchay because he never intended such a horrible thing to happen. In fact, she added, the community is very worried about his depression.

Court has heard Pauchay was trying to stay sober after the death of his girls, but last month he was arrested for allegedly breaching conditions of his bail by drinking.

Because he is still in custody, he was taken to the circle by RCMP officers, who continued to sit behind him through the process.

Another 60 observers sat listening to the circle's discussion, often sniffling and passing around boxes of tissues.

Several elders said if anything good can come from the tragedy, they hope it is a wake-up call for people to quit drinking.

Walker told the circle he stopped drinking years ago because he could never guarantee the outcome of his behaviour. He said Pauchay must do the same.

Pauchay's uncle, elder Francis Nippi, said jail should only be used for animals. He suggested Pauchay can get more help in his community.

"Release him to these elders and have him serve these elders," Nippi said.

The sentencing circle is a traditional form of restorative justice designed to help aboriginals heal and feel more connected to the courts. After everyone has had a say, participants recommend punishment. The judge may agree or impose a sentence of his own.

Pauchay's case is one of the most high-profile in the country to be given such treatment.