Gods Lake Narrows Detachment

Contact Information:
Box 319
Gods Lake Narrows, MB
R0B 0M0
Ph: (204) 335-2260
Fax: (204) 335-2529

Location:
Gods Lake Narrows (GLN) is located near the 54th parallel in eastern Manitoba, approximately 500 km north of Winnipeg and 200 km east of Thompson. The community is divided into the Gods Lake Narrows First Nation, located on the mainland, and the Metis settlement located on the island. The First Nations Band is split into two separate areas with main area to the east of the island and the other to the west, connected to the island via a causeway bridge.

Local Population:
The population of the First Nation community is approximately 2,500 people. The community of God’s River is a First Nation community located to the north of GLN and has approximately 800 people.

RCMP Detachment:
GLN is home to an ten-person RCMP contingent, which includes one sergeant, one corporal, and eight constables.

Community-based problem solving:

Often, there are groups already in place to deal with ongoing concerns or community projects. The following details what community challenges are being addressed by the members of the RCMP in partnership with their community. The major working groups include:

AWASIS Agency: This organization is located in the First Nation community of GLN and responds to this area alone. Members of this unit work closely with the caseworkers and counsellors when dealing with cases of child sexual abuse, neglect, and abandonment. RCMP members conduct interviews, investigations, and court preparations. On many occasions we involve other agencies such as NADAP and educate to solve problems as they occur.

Youth Initiatives: Members have been involved in/participated with: three day camping/canoe trip; pizza sale; basketball games; floor hockey games; ice hockey games; dances; member auction; fishing derbies, to name a few.

Thompson Health and Welfare Agency: This organization is located in Thompson and responds specifically to crises on the island community in Gods Lake Narrows. Members of this unit work closely with caseworkers and counsellors when dealing with cases of child sexual assault, neglect, and abandonment.

Bootlegging: Due to the fact that the island community is Crown land and the First Nation community is Band land, the sale of illegal liquor was rampant between the two communities. Meetings were held between the God’s Lake Narrows Chief and Council, the Gods Lake Narrows Mayor and Council, and the RCMP detachment.

Partnerships were reached with different agencies. Those participants include but are not limited to:

• Gods Lake Narrows Community Council
• Gods Lake Narrows Chief and Council
• Perimeter Aviation
• Manitoba Liquor Control Commission
• Thompson Health and Family Services
• Gods Lake Narrows First Nations Police
• Gods River Chief and Council
• Gods River First Nations Police
• Concerned members of the community
• NADAP Worker
• Meskanow Wellness and Learning Facilitator
• Brighter Futures Representatives

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Restorative and alternative justice:

Nationwide, members of the RCMP are involved in alternative justice processes, whether volunteering as facilitators or sitting on steering committees. Each community may embrace a different form of restorative justice, be it community justice forums, circle sentencing, or mediation.

Community Justice: The detachment provides a number of alternatives to the formal court process. Examples include discussions between the offending party and the victim, mediation involving the parents, school or agency and the offender, or direct referral to the Alternative Justice Worker. On a monthly basis, approximately eight to ten cases ranging from minor assaults, property offences, and minor criminal code offences are being dealt with alternatively.

Sweat Lodge Ceremony: The Meskanow Wellness and Learning Centre organized two sweat lodge ceremonies. These ceremonies are a method of healing pain, hurt, emotional anguish, and feelings of hopelessness that individuals may be experiencing as a result of life’s pressures and circumstances. Detachment members are interested in using this and other traditional methods such as sentencing circles as the need arises.

Crime prevention:

Members of the RCMP are involved with a number of programs designed to prevent crime in our communities through both indirect and direct intervention. From school talks to youth initiatives and community safety plans, the goal of crime prevention programs is to target the roots of potential criminal and social problems. Members of the RCMP are involved in the following initiatives:

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.): A detachment member who returned from the D.A.R.E. course was in the process of formulating educational programs for the students, however has since transferred. At present God’s Lake Detachment is without a D.A.R.E. Coordinator, however awaiting a position for another member to attend the course.

Integrated Policing: Detachment members work closely with the Band Constables in both Gods Lake Narrows and God's River First Nation Community. Gods Lake First Nation has six Band Constables. God's River First Nation has six Band Constables. Their roles are mainly reactive, however from time to time they take the opportunity to meet with youth during their daily patrols and at the school as well as the high volume area that youth gather to hang out.

Other Crime Prevention Programs include:

• School Liaison
• School Watch
• Boat/Quad/Snowmobile Patrols

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Police-community relations:

Without a solid base upon which to work, the police cannot hope to build the necessary partnerships with the community to prevent crime and to solve community problems. Members of the RCMP strive to build those bridges by appreciating the needs of the communities in which they work and live. Their commitment to the community goes beyond simple participation as residents, but also as active members of the community. Members of the RCMP are involved in the following initiatives:

• Youth
• School Public Relations
• Gods Lake Narrows Detachment Trust Fund
• Job Shadowing
• Red Serge Duty
• Radio Talks
• Guiding Services
• Fishing Derbys
• Operation Safe Drive

Quality service through strategic partnerships:

The community also benefits directly and indirectly from strategic partnerships that the RCMP forms with other law enforcement and governmental agencies as well as with as with other community groups. Several unique associations have been formed:

• Chief and Council
• Department of Manitoba Conservation
• Manitoba Sheriffs Department
• Gods Lake Narrows and God’s River Band Constables
• AWASIS Agency
• Bolton Air Services
• NADAP Workers
• Fire and Rescue God’s Lake First Nations
• Youth at Risk
• Sports Manitoba