Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
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Volume 63 • Issue 9
RCMP detachment wood carving pays tribute to Indigenous special constables
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
Thompson Citizen photo by Ian Graham Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham Nelson House RCMP detachment Special Const. Ryan Wrightson, left, and Thompson RCMP detachment Special Const. Rob Cleveland, right, with a wooden statue carved by Rick Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. Hall that is now displayed in the lobby of the Thompson RCMP detachment in recognition of the valuable services Indigenous special constables have provided the police force with BY IAN GRAHAM throughout its history. For all the harsh weather to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
she’s now written BYThough IAN GRAHAM
a book about her experienEDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET cesThe growing up in Churchill, Thompson RCMP Addictions Foundation detachment unveiled ofa Manitoba northern director wood carving in its lobGisele deMeulles said by that pays tribute towritthe ing wasn’t something she contributions of Indigenalways thought she would ous special constables at do. a ceremony on March 8. “In my youth I never Created by Rick Hall, felt good at stands writing,” the carving in she the said. when I moved corner“But of the RCMP deto Thompson to get into tachment’s lobby, which the school of social work, also features a poster acat that point I the hadCrown’s to write knowledging for university and realized, treaties with First Nations ‘Holy, I’m not at this, and a mural by bad an Indigenright?’ I certainly developed ous artist. a lot of skill in university “This particular tribute and came outto ofhonouring there with is dedicated a skill inconmy thevery rolestrong that special writing and confi dence in stables played within my writing. I write very the RCMP,” said RCMP clear and that’s it. It’s there. Manitoba North District Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
to figure out. It’s pretty clear when I get through.” commander Ryan Mitchell DeMeulles saidunveiling she wrote shortly before her book, titled Whispers in the carving with the help theManitoba Wind: Stories from the of Keewatinowi North - Life inGrand Churchill for Okimakanak Chief a couple of reasons. Garrison Settee. “When just sort of thought, the“Ipolice originally came you know what, thisearly histo the north in the tory, this stuff that’s in my 1890s, they lacked the head, it’s to be gone skills andgoing knowledge neif I don’t to write it down,” she cessary survive in such said. “My kids are not goa harsh climate. Indigening to get it if I don’t do it ous languages, cultures and it’s aland the something way of lifeI’ve were ways wantedunfamiliar my mom to to completely do. My mom’s an elder and most. Special constables she’s an artist, she’speople got so were indigenous many stories behired wonderful to help the police cause she always tells her adapt and survive in the stories at Parks Canada in north. The special conChurchill and I’vefamilies always stables and their hounded ‘Please,role, just played aher, crucial put it on tape, I will write it working alongside the pofor you story lice, in because helping your us underis going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,
I have all these stories and Istand needindigenous to capture them for cultures my grandchildren really and traditions. Their skills because they willwere be lost if and knowledge cruI don’t.” cial and, among other She also often has a they reputation functions, acted as a storyteller herself. as interpreters, scouts and “I had such a varied hisguides.” tory and I would people Mitchell, whotell oversees stories and they would go, policing services in nearly ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, all Manitoba communities ‘Yeah They’d go, north it’s of true.’ the 55th paral‘You didn’t do all that, did lel, with the exception of you? You’ve got to be really Opaskwayak Cree Nation, old.’ I was ‘No,Nations actually which haslike, a First Ipolice did allforce, that before I was 24 of which 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” are Indigenous communLooking of ities, saidback, the some RCMP those experiences arein things has done things the she do damaged again. pastmight that not have did somerelationships pretty bizarre the“I force’s stuff fuel haulsPeoples into the with like Indigenous high Arctic at -35,” said but that it is working to deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn repair those relationships. on“It megives until after. Thatpleaswas a me great very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel
to do but I jumped at it. I thought that was ure to stand here exciting to wituntil the plane landed and ness the unveiling of this they started throwing the very magnificent monufuel off I realized, ‘Holy ment toand commemorate the cats, I was probably sitting service of our Indigenous on a bomb.’” special constables for Another many, many thing years,” that said spurred her an onimportant was the Settee. “It’s hard times facing Churchill step in reconciliation. And Hudson Isince thinkthe that when Bay you Railtake way suspended and embark on operations this journorth of Gillam spring. ney, we want tolast walk with “It used to be a you. And we want really to be thriving able to belarge with community you to take and just dwindled down thoseit’sinitial steps, because to such a small population I believe that we have a now,”way deMeulles says. long to go. But I think Though she’ssignificant not there this is a very any herus parents and step.longer, And for at MKO, her sister andappreciative other family we’re very members are.that have of all the still efforts “My cousin owns the been made by your memhardware store there,” she bers and also the efforts says. that you’ve made personBecause of that, deMeulles finds it hard to
that Churchill residents should just find somewhere ally, because I’ve seen easier to the levellive. of commitment “Toyou say,bring ‘Those people that to reconchoose toWe livewill there. They ciliation. continue should justuntil leave,’ quite to strive weisreach simplistic. It’s quite disrewhat we consider to be spectful. If we were inRecthe true reconciliation. same boat inis another area onciliation not a word. IIt’s think we would scream actions. It’s going beabout that so why don’t they yond rhetoric and action, have theaoption to doAnd that?I making difference. Ithink think right now they’re that’s what we want feeling to do.” like they’re pawns in Other a political game and that’s recent actions really sad pointed for themto because Mitchell as partI think peoplereconciliaof Churchof thethe RCMP’s ill really to adding thrive. tion workwant include They’ve built their worlds Cree syllabics to Northern there. How would we feel Manitoba members’ name if someone came to you and tags that are embroidered said, ‘I’m sorry, youservice have to on their regular leave your home community uniforms and developing and we’re going to displace a basic Cree language for you somewhere elsebooklet and all law enforcement your loved ones and your history is gone?’”
and the dangers of polar bears, said if it for withdeMeulles the help of Northhad been viable she would ern Manitoba language have moved back to Churchconsultants including Star ill in a heartbeat. Beardy, who was recog“I miss the efforts shoreline, nized for her withI miss the rock, I miss the gift of a blanket at the the polar even though Marchbears 8 ceremony. they’re dangerous and “I’mvery living proof that Iresidential really miss the Hudson schools didn’t Bay,” she says. go completely get“When rid of Iour back home, standing the languages,” Beardyon said. Hudson outand on “I speakBay my looking language the bay, it just gives you an I credit that to my own incredible sense. You feel so community. I also want small and you feel [RCMP great.” to acknowledge Now that she’s got Manitoba North District one belt, Staffbook Sgt.] under Shayneher [Smith] deMeulles try for all the says workshe he’smay doing to produce another. across Manitoba because “I have book of in I grew up another being afraid me,” she says. “It’s a darker RCMP. It’s given me a story, more about and personnew perspective my al growth and struggles. blood doesn’t rise when I Maybe in thecar nextanymore.” five years see a police it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”