Ex-policeman to help develop Aboriginal self-policing policy

Page 3

Former Calgary policeman John Young is the new Regional Representative for Aboriginal Policing for Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

The position was created as part of the federal government's new policy to develop self-policing programs for first nations across the country. The program really began last year, Young says, as part of the changes to the criminal justice system proposed by aboriginal constitutional negotiators.

"Developing your own policing services is part of the move toward self-government. It's an important step in giving people control over their own lives," he says.

"The government is very committed to making this program successful. They'll be investing about $116 million in the program over the next five years, for policy-making and administrative work, training, equipment, recruitment, uniforms and capital expenditures. They want to see as many reserves as possible become fully mandated to do their own policing. It's why they wanted someone with a background in police work and real contact with Native communities."

Young has been in law enforcement since 1978, working his way from beat officer with the Calgary Police Department to traffic fatality investigations and to the identifications branch and training division, where he wrote the scripts for training films. He spent a year in a special Calgary Olympics unit, and for the last six years, he's been the aboriginal liaison officer for the department.

A University of Alberta graduate with a degree in chemistry, he's working towards another degree in Education and Computer Science at the University of Calgary.

As aboriginal liaison officer, Young won the respect and co-operation of Calgary Native groups and Indian leaders throughout the province. Last year he was adopted in

a traditional ceremony as the son of Joe and Josephine Crowshoe, Peigan elders and recipients of the Order of Canada.

"It was one of the highlights of my experience," Young says. "There was a big ceremony in which I was given an Indian name and they transferred ownership of a tipi

to me."

Young, who was given the name of Aapi Piita (White Eagle), received the honors for the work he's been doing in fostering better relationships between Natives and whites. But his warmth, enthusiasm and commitment to the Native community were also factors. The trust which he's established with the Native community was an important reason behind his appointment to the new position.

The new Aboriginal Policing Program was announced last April. Young first met with federal government officials at a national workshop on first nations policing, and was approached some time later about the position of regional representative.

"I had a very interesting experience when they asked me to take the job," he says. "The day after the government made me the offer, I was at a meeting with some members of the Native community. When the meeting was over I gave a ride home to a Blackfoot elder, Maggie Black Kettle, who teaches at the Plains Indian (Cultural Survival) School. I hadn't told anyone anything about the new job because I wasn't even sure I wanted to take it. But as we were in the car, Maggie said, 'John, I had a dream about you last night. I dreamt you were going to quit the Calgary Police Force.'"

"So when I told her about the job with the government I'd just been offered and she said, 'John, you go for it.'"

Young officially took up his new post Jan. 11, and will be going to Ottawa for two weeks of training. On his return, he'll be stationed in Calgary but will spend much of his time travelling to reserves throughout the province and up north.

He will work with Native communities that want to initiate self-policing or upgrade their operations to prepare to take over all their police operations. He'll also work with groups with full police capabilities, to ensure a higher lever of service and financing.

"I imagine I'll be spending much of my time on the road, but I feel strongly that you shoul get to know people and build bridges before any problems come up. Then

if problems do come up, you can approach them in a positive way."