Two years ago, if you asked Constable Kat Dawe how she was feeling before attending her first community event on Sweetgrass First Nation, she'd tell you she was nervous and even felt hesitant to go.
"I didn't want anyone to feel uncomfortable with me there [in uniform]," says Cst. Dawe, a Saskatchewan RCMP officer with the Battlefords Detachment. "When I arrived, a councillor approached me and said they were very happy to see me there and that I was always welcome." She's now the first one to admit how wrong she was to feel that way, since that interaction was just the beginning of many welcoming invitations from the Sweetgrass First Nation community.
In 2022, Cst. Dawe had just started her new role as a Community Tripartite Agreement (CTA) member on Sweetgrass First Nation - which is 35 kilometers west of Battleford, Saskatchewan. She quickly jumped into her new CTA responsibilities. She collaborated with leaders on ways to prevent crime and learned how to resolve problems affecting the safety of the community. She also worked closely with the Sweetgrass First Nation security team.
"Kirk, Dean, and Garnet help locate high risk offenders, act as backup on calls and are so helpful when it comes to de-escalating situations," says Cst. Dawe.
The team of three is available to help the Saskatchewan RCMP seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Not only are they there to support the local RCMP, they're also volunteer firefighters and first responders until emergency services arrive on scene. Their job is an essential part of the Saskatchewan RCMP's work on Sweetgrass First Nation.
Kirk Favel is head of the Sweetgrass First Nation Security and he feels the relationship between the two teams has grown over time.
"It comes down to communication, trust, and respect," says Kirk. "When they need assistance, they let us know and we're there to help. They do their thing and we do ours. It's a true partnership."
The team has also helped the police officers when they needed it the most.
"My co-worker Constable Amanda Jespersen and I have been involved in some serious altercations and unfortunately haven't had backup close by. The security team is always there to quickly respond," says Cst. Dawe. "I'm extremely appreciative of them. Not only do they assist us, but they take care of the people of Sweetgrass First Nation, who have become like family to me. They create a sense of safety in the community."
To recognize their hard work and everything they've done to help the Saskatchewan RCMP, Cst. Dawe and Cst. Jespersen presented members of the team with Saskatchewan RCMP Indigenous Policing Services blankets, challenge coins, certificates, and tobacco.
"How do you thank people that do so much?" says Cst. Dawe.
She wasn't the only one that felt that way. The two groups were invited to attend the FSIN Assembly of Chiefs and were presented with star blankets to acknowledge the exceptional relationship that had been built. Inspector Jesse Gilbert of the Battlefords RCMP Detachment was very proud of his team and was not expecting the public presentation.
"It was an honour for everyone to be recognized publicly." said Insp. Gilbert. "These two teams have a vested interest in keeping the community of Sweetgrass First Nation safe. It's so important for them to work together, and not only do these two teams do that, they're doing an exceptional job at it."
Similarly, Kirk shared how much it meant to him and his team. "It was a little nerve-wracking to be recognized in such a public way, but it was great to show everyone that we can successfully work together as one team."