Mi'kmaw peacekeepers program launches in 7 N.B. communities

Fourteenpeacekeepers graduated from a new training program and arenow servingsevenMi'kmaw communities across New Brunswick, aiming to provide an alternative toenforcement-based policing.

Tristan Sock is already on the job inL'nui Menuikuk, Indian Island First Nation, about 65kilometresnorth of Moncton.

"In my experience as soon as I start speaking Mi'kmaw to people that actually understand it, their demeanour changes," said Sock, 36, who is originally from Elsipogtog First Nation but has livedinL'nui Menuikukfor 12 years.

"It could be an escalated situation and after talking to me in Mi'kmaw, it could bring it down almost instantly."

Sock saidwith his training he can help both the first responders and Mi'kmaqin crisis.

The peacekeepers received seven weeks of training in mental health, first aid, conflict management, patrolling, defensive driving and de-escalation tactics at New Brunswick Community College.

Mi'gmaq Peacekeepers Inc. was developedbyMi'gmawe'l Tplu'tuqnn Inc., an advocacy group that represents eight Mi'kmaw communities.

Two peacekeepers each are now working in Eel River Bar, Pabineau, Natoaganeg, Metepenagiag Mi'kmaqNation, Buctouche, Fort Folly and Indian Island First Nations.

Morley Sark, the program co-ordinator, said there's plans to expand to Esgenopetitj First Nation.

Sark, who is Mi'kmaw from Natoaganeg, Eel Ground First Nation,said it's about empowering their communities.

"Someone's got tokeep our reserves and community safe and we can't really depend on outside agencies to do that for us," said Sark.

He said during the COVID-19 pandemic, his community rolled out extra security measures, like security guards and barriers.

Natoaganeg Chief George Ginnishsaid elders in his community felt safer with those measures, and he hopes the peacekeepers can add to that sense of safety.

He mentioned the fatalpolice-involved shootings of Rodney Levi and Chantal Moore in New Brunswick in 2020 as examples ofsituationspeacekeepers mayhelp prevent through de-escalation.

Levi was a Mi'kmaw man from Metepenagiag Mi'kmaw Nation who was shot and killed by the RCMPat a house near Miramichi, N.B., after officers were called to intervene when witnesses feared for Levi's safety.

Moore was from Tla-o-qui-aut First Nation in B.C. and was killed by Edmundston, N.B., police in 2020 after theywere called to do a wellness check. Both cases led to national outcries of systemic racism and calls for increased cultural sensitivity training for police.

Ginnish said the peacekeepers will have knowledge of available community supportlike addictions counselling, mental wellness teams, elders and cultural services to help guide people to healing as opposed to having them arrested.

"These positions here are going to carry a lot of responsibility," said Ginnish.