The organizer of an upcoming drug and gang forum hopes to educate the public about the regional crime situation.
Jacob Pete describes himself as the first treaty Indian member of the RCMP, and he has previously worked to deter drug crime. Pete is currently a Little Pine First Nation elder, and he has previously worked to establish on-reserve policing, including on Louie Bull First Nation in Alberta.
Pete was a main organizer of establishing a security force on Little Pine First Nation and Poundmaker Cree Nation, along with bringing community safety officers to the First Nations.
The drug and gang forum will run Nov. 22 and 23 at the Dekker Centre. Presenters and topics on the first day include: RCMP Cpl. Karen Pelletier presenting on drug threats and problems at 9 a.m.; RCMP Cst. Steve Evans presenting on Aboriginal street gangs at 10:30 a.m.; law professional Loretta Pete-Lambert presenting on marijuana laws at 1 p.m.; and psychologist Holly Graham of Thunderchild First Nation presenting on drug use and the brain at 2:30 p.m.
Day two will feature a presentation on Indigenous justice by assistant professor in sociology John Hansen at 9 a.m., followed by a video presentation.
The forum’s title is Reclaiming Miyopimatisiwin: What gets in the way? (Miyopimatisiwin translates as “the good life.”)
Pete said there is gang and drug activity in North Battleford and in the surrounding area, and Pete argues such problems can begin to be solved with the help of Indigenous traditions, spirituality and customs.
“The enforcement aspect is one way to do it, but we need to go back to our people in the community and basically we got to start with the young ones.”
“Maybe we should revert back to what we had before," Pete said. “This colonization process has really screwed us up.”
In February, Richard Checkosis, councillor in charge of Little Pine’s justice portfolio, told the News-Optimist security duties include patrolling and checking on elders, calling police if needed.
Regarding what he hopes to accomplish with the forum, Pete said, “hopefully we can get some type of collective action happening within the communities.”
“We have to allow the common person to think of solutions in terms of what they do see and get the people to start talking about things locally because it impacts everything that we do.”
Pete also said the recent legalization of selling and possessing cannabis are a big concern, and “legalizing it can create major problems for the bands.”
Little Pine and Poundmaker members are the forum’s main audience, but Pete said everyone is invited to attend. Attendance is free.
