Opaskwayak FNCPS Detachment

Contact Information:
Box 10220
235 Waller Road
Opaskwayak, MB
R0B-2J0
Ph: (204)627-6244
Fax: (204)627-6241

Location:
Welcome to the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN), a community with a thriving culture, a rich heritage, and a bright future. Several thousand years ago the junction of the Saskatchewan and Pasquia Rivers became a meeting place for early aboriginal peoples. Today, it is the home to over 4500 people of Cree descent, located approximately 621 km northwest of Winnipeg.

RCMP Detachment:
OCN Detachment consists of one Sergeant, one Corporal, five Constables, one public servant and three local Band Constables.

Opaskwayak RCMP/FNCPS and The Pas town and rural are amalgamated units that currently have 27 members, seven clerical staff and a victim services coordinator. The Pas Detachment has a General Investigative Section (GIS) and an independently run Forensic Identification Unit.

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 Opaskwayak Detachment in partnership with their community. In OCN, the major working groups include:

Child Protection Team: This committee is comprised of members from a number of social agencies within the Town of The Pas and Opaskwayak Cree Nation( Social Worker, Child & Family Service worker, school counselor, police and probation). This committee has recently consolidated to include both OCN and Town of The Pas cases that deal with child abuse and neglect. The purpose of the committee is to allow different agencies to share information and discuss possible problems and solutions. Intervention and family assistance are generally the agreed upon methods.

Restorative and Alternative Justice

Nation-wide, members of the RCMP are involved in the daily operations of alternative justice forums, whether it is 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 Program: Opaskwayak Detachment has a very effective Community Justice Program. Currently there are eight trained facilitators representative of a number of agencies from within the area. A public servant acts as the program coordinator and works with facilitators to ensure that forums run smoothly. One member is a facilitator instructor who has traveled to other communities providing training for other members and community residents. A number of pre-charge and post charge cases ranging from assault with a weapon, assault, theft, willful damage and shoplifting have been dealt with successfully through this program. The program has been well received by victims of crime who now have far more input in the process, as well as from offenders and their families who fully support the program.

Alternative Measures Program: One member of The Pas detachment sits as a member of the local Alternative Measures Program. The program is coordinated by the local Probation office and has a number of community members involved. The program deals with post charge cases that are referred by the courts for disposition. Members of Opaskwayak take an active role in providing information to the committee, answering any questions that committee members might have. Offenders take part in the process and any disposition is monitored by staff at Probation Services. The program works well in conjunction with the community justice forum.

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 to community safety plans, the goal of crime prevention programs is to target the roots of potential criminal and social problems. Members of The Opaskwayak Detachment are involved in the following initiatives:

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE): DARE consists of a seventeen week educational program for students at the Grade Six level. The program focuses on educating students as to the effects of drugs(tobacco, alcohol and other illicit drugs), and includes issues such as self-esteem, consequences and positive alternatives to drugs and /or violence. Opaskwayak Detachment currently has two trained D.A.R.E. instructors. The program has been taught at Joe A. Ross School for the last five years. To date, over 300 students have successfully graduated from the program. To date, D.A.R.E. has been met with tremendous enthusiasm from school administrators, teachers, parents, and particularly students.

Drug / Gang and Alcohol Committee: In 2002 a committee was formed from local Elders along with a member to increase the awareness of gangs and the impact they can have on the community.

Reading and Running Club: In 2007 an initiative was organized to target those youth susceptible to drugs and gangs. It brings together the youth, adult volunteers and police in working together to build upon their confidence sociably. An initiative that runs through the school year at Joe A ROSS school on Opaskwayak Cree Nation.

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 daily 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 Opaskwayak Detachment are involved in the following initiatives:

School Liaisons: A member from Opaskwayak detachment is assigned to Joe A. Ross school which is the only school within our area. The member meets regularly with school officials to determine what types of programs are required. The member assigned to the school is originally from OCN and is well known by the students and staff. He will often attend school functions and classes to meet with staff and students and arrange for presentations.

OCN Youth Centre Liaison: A member has been assigned to meet regularly with the youth and develop a strong working relationship with the youth, parents and management. This member is also providing the youth with a better understanding of what police do and what it takes to become a member of the RCMP.

Volunteer work by OCN RCMP members:

• Members are involved in coaching the following sports: baseball, hockey teams involving youth of various ages, high school basketball, and soccer.
• Members along with The Pas detachment host an annual golf tournament with proceeds going to Jr. Golf.
• Members participate with Canada Day celebrations and Remembrance Day ceremonies.
• The detachment along with The Pas detachment is represented by teams in the following sports: slow pitch baseball, summer ball hockey, touch football, golf and ice hockey.
• Members volunteer on the following committees/ boards; The Pas Action Centre, Big Eddy Youth Centre, Joe A. Ross discipline Committee, and Drug and Alcohol Committee.

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
• The Pas Chapter of the National Joint Committee of Senior Criminal Justice Officials
• Victim Services