RCMP exhibit showcases relationship with indigenous people

As a part of National Aboriginal History Month, and with National Aboriginal Day on Wednesday, the RCMP is celebrating its relationship with the indigenous community.

The RCMP Heritage Centre is presenting a new exhibit called “Building Better Partnerships: The RCMP and Canada’s First Peoples”. It looks at the history and connection between First Nations people and the nation-wide police force.

Barry Ledoux is a sergeant with the aboriginal policing unit in Saskatchewan.

“When you go back in history, the RCMP came here and we depended on the First Nations people to help us, not only help us with policing but help us survive,” Ledoux said.

He mentioned how First Nations people helped the police force make clothing and gather food so they could survive the harsh environment.

According to Ledoux, those type of relationships have remained important because many officers live in the very communities they help police.

He said the whole thinking behind National Aboriginal Day has changed.

“When you talk about the residential schools and stuff like that, the whole country is being made aware of the First Nations issues of our three distinct groups,” Ledoux said.

The exhibit will be open until the end of February.