Indigenous youth get a look at RCMP careers
Kitana Arcand wants to show everyone that a First Nation woman can do anything she puts her mind to.
For the 17-year-old from Enoch Cree Nation, that means becoming a member of the RCMP.
“I want to show everybody that a First Nations woman can do anything and be anything they want,” she said. “There are some First Nations out there that aren’t really on a straight path, let’s just say. I just like to show everybody that First Nation women or peoples can do anything.”
Arcand was one of more than 20 candidates who attended the second annual Alberta RCMP Soaring Eagles Camp.
The weeklong program, which had its graduating ceremony on Friday, provides Indigenous youth a crash course in policing if they decide to choose that as a career. The camp, which is hosted at the K-division headquarters, features one-on-ones with officers from various units, drills and instructional learning.
The candidates wear a standard uniform of black pants, a T-shirt and cap that all have to be kept in proper order. The program is offered for youth between the ages of 16 to 19 years old and is open to Métis and Inuit youth as well.
After finishing a round of marching, Arcand said she loved the physical and mental challenge of it. She said she was inspired to join the RCMP because of the hard work she witnessed by her aunt and uncle, who are members of the force.
Fellow candidate Mackenzie Cutter said she’s also eager to join the RCMP because she feels it’s important to give back.
She said she also wants to improve the relationship between police and Indigenous people and hopes to set a good example.
“A lot of people think cops are the bad guys. I want to try and switch that around, be that cop that changes their minds,” the 18-year-old from Siksika Nation said. “There are some bad cops. There have been really nice cops I’ve talked to and helped out my parents. There have been bad stereotypes about them. I have witnessed stuff but I really want to be there to help try and change that.”
Sgt. Kim Mueller, who is in charge of recruiting for K Division, described the program as challenging, since the candidates might not be used to having to get up at the crack of dawn to do drills. The program costs about $20,000 to run, which is covered through provincial funding. The RCMP provides the rest in-kind by providing accommodations and other necessities.
Mueller said her measure of success is simply ensuring the candidates have a good experience.
“I would love to see every one of those people decide ‘RCMP is the way for me,’ ” Mueller said. “If they go back to their community and they learn some teamwork, they learn some leadership and they apply that to whatever path they choose that’s a success. If I get two or three of them back in uniform one day, that would be great.”