New jobs fight racism

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The Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in the Pincher Creek area are doing all they can to better co-operate with each other. Over the last few months, racial tension has grown in the small southern Alberta community, but initiatives announced in recent weeks are expected to bring tensions down.

The creation of the Community Relations Group several months ago in the area has been a major component in smoothing over many difficulties. The group, made up of community members from the urban and rural Pincher Creek area, including the Peigan First Nation, has received funding from the provincial and federal governments to allow for the hiring of a community liaison worker.

"We're really pleased," said the Community Relations Group's Lionel Crow Shoe. "It's definitely needed in both communities."

The southern Alberta communities were torn apart in January when two Native men were charged in the beating death of a white Pincher Creek man. The situation was further aggravated when both men were released on bail pending trial. It has resulted in mounting tension between the white and Native populations in the town and neighboring Peigan First Nation at Brocket.

"We want the M.D. (of Pincher Creek), town and reserve to take ownership in this and pride in this initiative," said Quinton Crow Shoe, member of the Community Relations Group and program director of the Napi Friendship Centre in Pincher Creek.

The proposal for funding was presented late June and was met with enthusiasm by provincial representative, Carrie Dusterhoft, assistant manager with Urban Initiatives of Alberta Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs. "It was an excellent proposal," said Dusterhoft.

The group received the full $17,000 it requested from the provincial government. The federal department of Canadian Identification and Cultural Development has agreed to contribute $10,000.

The group will be meeting in early September to finalize a job description and open the position up for competition, said Lionel Crow Shoe, who is hopeful someone can come on board by mid-September. The position will run through until March 31, 1999.

Funding will pay for salary, administrative costs, and the lease of office space from the newly renovated Napi Friendship Centre in Pincher Creek.

"We hope this becomes a multi-year project that will become the fabric of the community," said Janet Elder, chair of the group.

Part of that fabric has been woven with the appointment of Jodi Scott as the town's new bylaw enforcement officer. Scott, a Peigan First Nation member, started in August.

Hiring an Aboriginal employee for the town served a two-fold purpose, said Pincher Creek Mayor Ken Dickie.

"We had some more bylaw enforcement work to do," he said, "and we wanted to show that all the jobs in town don't go only to people who are non-Native."

Scott's hiring is part of a joint pilot project between the town and the province's department of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs.

The province will fund the majority of Scott's salary until November. Dickie hopes the town will be able to foot the full bill and keep her on longer.

Scott's duties include dealing with loiterers, parking concerns and helping lost tourists.

"We've been getting lots of good comments about her," said Dickie. "Jodi does a great PR job for us with the tourists."