Agreement signed

A new tripartite agreement will change policing for Montana, Ermineskin and Samson First Nations in Hobbema.

A new RCMP detachment will be built at Montana reserve, and nine new Aboriginal officers will be shared between the three bands.

"It's historic, this CTA (Community Tripartite Agreement)," said Caroline Buffalo, a Montana band councillor. It's the largest agreement of its kind in Canada. "The agreement provides the opportunity to work with the federal and provincial governments to design an effective police service that is culturally relevant and makes sense to the communty.

Samson chief Victor Buffalo said the agreement will help the communities combat the problems of drugs, gangs and violence.

"We will begin to address that evil," Buffalo said.

Over the course of five years the federal government will provide $8.6 million. Alberta will provide $4.5 million.

"These nine police will be Aboriginal," in order to respect Aboriginal culture and traditions, he said.