RCMP opens office at Saddle Lake

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High-ranking RCMP officials from Edmonton sat in a pipe ceremony with Saddle Lake Chief Carl Quinn, the band council and elders to officially open a six-person RCMP detachment on the reserve.

As the smell of sweetgrass filled the air in the tine RCMP room at the Nov. 28 ceremony, spiritual leader Noah Cardinal said Saddle Lake and the detachment must work hand in hand to heal the community.

"Indian people do not want to hurt anymore," Cardinal said, while what he called "bluecoats" RCMP smoked the sacred pipe with him.

The community-based policing project is the first of its kind in Alberta.

There is a police force on Assumption reserve in northern Alberta, but Saddle Lake RCMP supervisor Const. Brian Cottell said there is a difference.

"The Assumption detachment is an autonomous unit. It runs its own administration while we are administered out of St. Paul," Cottell explained.

Project co-ordinator Staff Sgt. Jim Fell said it was almost like Christmas for him to see an office officially open on the reserve.

"For about three yeas now we have been echoing the ambitions of K-division in Edmonton to have an efficient police service for Native people. It's something I have hoped for," he said.

Fell said he's always wanted to enhance the police image with Native youth.

"I remember once I needed directions because I was lost. I pulled into a yard and knocked on the door of the house. Just then I hear the back door slam shut."

"Receiving no response I decided to check the back and noticed a group of Native children hidden. They were frightened of my police car. That hurt," Fell said.

He said he's also happy to see the detachment at Saddle Lake because it will provide security - "especially for the elderly."

Fell gives much of the credit for the opening of the sub-office to Saddle Lake elder Joe P. Cardinal, who plugged away to get a police force at Saddle Lake.

Quinn welcomed the police to the reserve and said he was "confident your presence here will be positive to our community and that you will commit yourselves to continued cultural awareness and that you will respect an honor the aspirations and laws of out nation."

Quinn, while noting relations between the RCMP and Native people had improved tin recent years, said the police still must show more tolerance.

They must begin to try and understand the needs of the Indian community from the perspective of the people who live here," he said.

He rapped police for over the years having been "more aggressive in their treatment of Indians and... less supportive of their traditional values."

Quinn said "stereotyping and negative attitudes prevailed in many areas of service from the constables' treatment of offenders to the treatment of Indians in a court system that never understands the spirit and intent of the treaties."

RCMP Chief Supt. Les Holms said the RCMP recognized years ago that changes were needed to provide better service to Alberta's Indian communities.

"We've made great strides towards working together, particularly over the last few years, and we want to continue on the course we set," he said.

Holms said the RCMP intends to listen to what Native people have to say, something he said Gordon Greig, the former assistant commissioner and commanding officers of K-division in Edmonton, always strived for.

The detachment will be responsible for policing Saddle Lake, Goodfish Lake reserve, several towns and the surrounding area.

The RCMP will be assisted by two Saddle Lake tribal police officers.

Most of the crimes committed are alcohol and drug related. Quinn said the RCMP recognizes the immediate needs of Saddle Lake, a community that wants to be alcohol and drug free and to "feel safe and secure."