Indigenous Policing Adopts Program
The RCMP Indigenous Policing Services looks to the IPAC Ambassador Program to inspire learning
Above: Corporal Anthony Cameron of RCMP IPS and Charlene Bearhead, Director of Reconciliation during a totem pole raising ceremony in Haida Gwaii where IPAC and the Naut’sa mawt program was introduced to community. With the help of IPS it has now been circulated to three different communities in the region. Below: Some of the IPS members who were able to attend in person.
Despite floods turning the Pacific Region Training Centre in Chilliwack into an isolated island, more than 50 members of the Indigenous Policing Services (IPS) still found a way to participate in an RCMP hosted IPAC Ambassador Program conducted by Cst Bill Nadeau and Cpl Anthony Cameron. Cpl Cameron (Anishinaabe) has decades of services with the Mounties with postings across Canada including the popular RCMP Musical Ride team and now serves a lead role within IPS.
It was Superintendent Dee Stewart and Cpl Cameron who originally saw the merit of the ambassador program and were instrumental in securing resources to bring the initiative within the RCMP fold. Cameron pointed out that WCMS and IPS are ideally positioned to address these challenges and overcome the barriers hindering the distribution of essential learning products “providing equitable access to all people”. This initiative affords the RCMP an opportunity to help champion reconciliation, develop stronger relations with Indigenous communities, build connection between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous communities and promote a better understanding of who we are and how we got to this place.
The merits go beyond championing reconciliation by creating other avenues for positive interaction and relationship building in the communities. Nadeau adds, “This initiative gives us (the RCMP) positive reasons to be in the community, a presence that does not always have to be perceived as being ‘enforcement’ or ‘monitoring’ related, but still results in a higher level of safety due to our attendance.”
Management at RCMP E Division also got a chance to explore the IPAC GFM and learn more about the Positive Partnership Program.
IPS Corporal Cameron and Charlene Bearhead assist Snaw-naw-as elder during an Ambassador Training Program.