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11 May 2011
Community Consultative Groups Workshop
The Gitxsan Hereditary Chief ’s Office received an invitation from Public Safety Canada to attend a native communities policing workshop. At the Community Consultative Groups Workshop (CCGW), participants spoke of their experiences, ideas, and their success stories. They also looked at the RCMP and the relationship they have with the community. New police recruits need cross- culture training, and common respect is required from all involved.
To fully understand the native community the RCMP needs to learn of their history as it relates to native peoples. This was demonstrated to the workshop through a video presentation, “The Spirit has No Color.” To take care and take control of the “Indian problem”, laws were passed that banned the feast, prevented gathering to discuss land matters, and allowed for sending kids to residential schools against their will. Such laws were enforced by the RCMP.
There was no discussion on domestic violence, drugs, theft, and alcoholism. This would be a situation that treaty talks can attempt to remedy. Indian policy was intended to suppress. Once we accept or are indoctrinated than that is the final solution to the Indian problem. Ironically elected Chiefs gather to deal with the effects of being caged in. The reserve does not lend itself to economic development. The greater than 90% unemployment can be cited as symptoms of bad to follow. None of the indoctrinated will say, hey, we’re supervising our own misery. In any case, this conference cited a three part process. The CCG communities should consider:
• Accountability;
• Cross cultural awareness and relationship building; and
• Learn from the past and move on in a different spirit.
Art Wilson
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