Importance of education stressed by parents

For “action beyond and above the call of duty” in April 2010, Cst. Pernell Cardinal was awarded the Bronze Medal from the Royal Canadian Humane Association. He and Cst. David Lee, from the Maskwacis RCMP Detachment responded to a house fire at the Samson town site, where they entered a house and rescued an unconscious man. Both RCMP officers were taken to hospital where they were treated for smoke inhalation. Both men were recipients of the Bronze Medal.

Pernell is joined at the Maskwacis Detachment by brother Perry, who is also a constable.

Having two sons in the RCMP has given Albina and Peter Cardinal a greater appreciation of the work members do.
“The RCMP, it’s like a family. You understand now what the RCMP have done for us,” said Albina. “I never used to like (the police).”

“The Native people thought the police were after them,” Peter said.

But both Albina and Peter agree that the problem may be a misunderstanding between both sides.

But with Perry and Pernell Cardinal donning the red serge, there’s a clear indication that the RCMP are working to address cultural gaps.

Peter and Albina, who will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in two years, are proud of all of their children; Perry, Pearl, Percy, Penny, Pernell, Polly, Payne and Pam.

Ask them what they did right getting eight children through their childhoods and onto careers ranging from the RCMP to banking and teaching and they have no problem agreeing: no television, take them to church every Sunday and most of all, stress the importance of education.

 “We sort of told them from the beginning, they have to be in school and get a good education in order to get a good job,” said Peter.

Albina stayed at home for most of the children’s formative years.

“I think that was the right medicine,” she said.
All of the children were kept busy and were involved heavily in sports. Three of the children never completed high school, but still have gone on to have successful lives.

Both Peter and Albina are proud to have two sons serving in the RCMP, although Albina worries like any mother does.

“When you hear about policemen getting killed…” Albina said. Both of them felt the strain when four officers were shot in Mayerthorpe in 2005.

Perry became interested in law enforcement in high school, joined the special constable program after graduation then eventually made his way to a regular officer position.

Pernell, one of the younger boys, started working for the North Peace Tribal Police and eventually joined the RCMP.
It has been a long road, although a happy one, for the couple. Albina attended residential school for years and says it was difficult, although she now appreciates having her education.

It gave her a philosophical approach when her children asked why they weren’t taught Cree, a language both parents grew up speaking.

“I tell them now, you can learn Cree just like I had to learn English,” she said.

It was a stark contrast between her home life. At school, there was heat, running water and strict rules. At home, there was freedom but no central heat and water had to be carried from the river.

Peter also learned to work hard at a young age. “Everybody has to do their share,” he said.

He recalls his dad sending him and his brother hunting and giving them two shells. They were expected to bring back two animals for those shells. Fortunately, his brother was a good shot, he said.