Community partners are like different spokes on a wheel, explains Dwayne Noon, Thunderchild First Nation's pandemic co-ordinator. "Each one of them plays a part to make the wheel work." An important spoke for Thunderchild First Nation is Turtleford/Glaslyn RCMP, and, on April 12, 2021, a ceremony was organized to celebrate the strong partnership that has grown between them.
Partners in community safety
"Our working relationship is really, really good," says Cpl. Dwight Sacrey. "They are very pro-police and come to us often with ways we can work together." That includes everything from helping the First Nation drafting operations plans for its popular annual pow wow, to connecting with local youth through school presentations, to collaborating to stem gang activity.
COVID-19 has further expanded ways the two partners collaborate to promote community safety. The detachment worked closely with Mr. Noon and the Thunderchild First Nation's health department to ensure community members abided by provincial restrictions. Employees at check stops at the community's borders have also become invaluable policing partners, alerting officers when they spot suspected impaired drivers or other safety concerns.
Eagle feather inspires ceremony
Recently, Turtleford/Glaslyn, like many RCMP Detachments across Saskatchewan, received an eagle feather to offer to victims, witnesses, suspects and police officers as a spiritually significant option for swearing legal oaths or for comfort during proceedings. The eagle feather is a powerful symbol in many Indigenous cultures because the eagle is the one who flies the closest to the Creator.
When Cpl. Sacrey approached Thunderchild's leadership for assistance in blessing the detachment's new eagle feather, plans quickly came together to not only do that, but to organize a ceremony that would celebrate the connections built between the detachment and Thunderchild First Nation as well as the detachment's ongoing work toward reconciliation. "This ceremony is that conscious effort to keep moving forward," Mr. Noon explains. "There were so many symbolic things that happened there. We are moving forward."
RCMP officers surprised by star blanket presentation
The eagle feather was blessed in a tipi during the ceremony, with Chief James Snakeskin, Mr. Noon and other community Elders and officials in attendance. It also included a feast and pipe ceremony (modified to confirm to COVID-19 restrictions) and an unexpected honour: star blankets were presented to Cpl. Sacrey, Cpl. Chris Bezaire, Cst. Roxanne Hendrycks, Cst. Tayte Hale-Goddard of Turtleford/Glaslyn RCMP, as well as to Sgt. Karen Pelletier of Saskatchewan RCMP Indigenous Policing Services. The blankets, quilted with a star design, hold significant value in many Indigenous cultures. They are presented to recipients as a gift of honour and respect.
"I just didn't expect that," Cpl. Sacrey says. "I was really happy. It was such an honour."
"I was smiling all the way home," says Sgt. Pelletier. "The ceremony and feast foods were conducted and prepared with so much care, kindness, love and consideration. For five RCMP officers to receive star blankets at the same time for work in reconciliation, that's amazing."