Aboriginal Portfolio
The Aboriginal community is important to our local landscape and national identity. Locally, the urban Aboriginal community continues to grow. Many First Nations people (including Treaty 7 members) live in Calgary.During Stampede 2000, the Police Service Tee-Pee liner was painted by Aboriginal youth demonstrating the ongoing relationship between the Calgary Police Service and the Aboriginal community.
Aboriginal people are often reluctant to report crime. The Aboriginal liaison officer works to increase trust and confidence between the Aboriginal community and police. All Calgarians have a right to feel confident that they can access police, and that their complaints will be dealt with in a fair and efficient manner.
Involvement
The Aboriginal liaison officer works directly with Aboriginal people, community groups and committees. The officer encourages fellow police to participate in the community and Aboriginal people to participate in the Calgary Police Service to develop stronger relationships. The liaison officer is involved in the following associations and committees:- Member of the Aboriginal Justice Council
- Member of the Aboriginal Opportunities Committee, Calgary Chamber of Commerce
- Member of the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee
- Member of the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede - Indian Events Committee
- Member of the City of Calgary - Corporate Aboriginal Team
- Member of the YMCA: Aboriginal Youth Outreach Project
- Member of the Native Information Exchange Committee
- Member of the Ii-paa-taa-pii Calgary Urban Aboriginal Suicide Prevention Committee
Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Camp
The Calgary Police Service, through the Oldman River Cultural Centre, organizes an annual camp to improve relationships between the Aboriginal communities, the public, and the police community.The Peigan Nation continues to share its culture and heritage with police officers and civilian employees. All sessions and activities are held in a traditional Peigan encampment where participants live for one week. The camp's theme changes each year.
Some areas of learning:
- Aboriginal perspective and ceremony compared to the western perspective
- Understanding the roles and responsibilities of elders
- Understanding policing issues in Aboriginal communities today
- Understanding contemporary and traditional roles of Aboriginal women
- Understanding and identifying a typical Aboriginal community as it exists today
- Learning about the role of spirituality in Aboriginal communities
Updated: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 10:00 AM