RCMP Members visit Kashechewan First Nation

From March 9-12, 2009, Corporal Cheryle Hayden and Corporal Roger King of the Integrated Support Services Unit (ISSU), along with Alderville First Nations addiction worker, John Mattson, attended Kashechewan First Nation to provide workshops on drug/alcohol abuse, gambling addiction, and suicide prevention.

Kashechewan First Nation is an isolated community on the James Bay coast that has been plagued by suicide, drug and alcohol abuse and flooding in the spring. Residents have been evacuated in past years and they were gearing up for yet another possible evacuation in the future.

Immediately upon arrival, the three visitors were invited to speak to the students about the RCMP and recruiting. The enthusiastic students listened intently, which was followed by a lengthy question and answer session.

When shown the Musical Ride poster, one student leapt off her chair and with a broad smile and showed the class the pictures of the Mounties in red serge. For students who are normally quite reserved, their energy during this session was impressive.

It is rare for the community to meet RCMP officers, however this was Cheryle and Roger’s second visit to the community. Their first visit, two years ago, involved members of the ISSU assisting the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service in delivering front line policing. This visit was different as it entailed providing workshops for the community.

The community and teachers were very hospitable and happily shared their accommodation with all of the visitors.

The day would start with a smudge ceremony and there was a sharing circle held at the high school in the evening which involved drumming and singing. Talks included information about the four sacred medicines and the medicine wheel.

Along with the standard material provided in the workshops, discussions were also held about being proactive in the community and the importance of their youth committee having a voice in the community. Youth were encouraged to speak to their elders and family members when they were experiencing troubles. Communication and self expression were also discussed with the teens.

Some traditional medicines were left at the community and a hand drum, that was brought by John Mattson, was presented to the school principal to be used by the students.

Although faced with a raging blizzard and -40 celsius temperatures, the workshops were a great success. With mixed emotions, the three boarded the RCMP plane on the 12th. They spent the long trip home enthusiastically relating all of their experiences of the week.

The three members would like to acknowledge and thank the pilots, Brian and Paul, as well as Jan Gray at Flight Services, for making the trip possible.