Aboriginal constable service to be restored

Sgt. Mike Nussbaumer of the High Prairie RCMP Detachment will be handling the establishment of the aboriginal police service for Driftpile and the other member communities of the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council.

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

The Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council plans to re-establish an aboriginal constable service for Driftpile and its other member communities. This service was disbanded in 2006 because of the lack of officers and other resources. However, Grand Chief Rose Laboucan wants it restored to deal with drug and alcohol problems in Driftpile. “It’s a much needed service,” says Laboucan. “It’s going to be welcomed by band members.” Sgt. Mike Nuss- baumer works out of the RCMP detachment in High Prairie, and he has taken up the assignment to formulate the new service. He says the RCMP is not doing the recruiting, as this will be left to the communities. “We’re helping them to re-establish their own police services. We’re not here to replace them,” says Nussbaumer. The recruits will be trained at the RCMP Depot in Regina. Driftpile had four constables before its detachment folded. He’s going to re-establish it with four more constables as well as a junior non-commissioned officer position. Two public servant positions will also be filled. The federal and provincial governments are providing funding for the training of the constables. The Driftpile band council has chosen a site for the detachment and a community hall in one location. However, the LSLIRC has to approve the site. The LSLIRC comprises Driftpile, Kapawe’no, Sawridge, Sucker Creek and Swan River. The High Prairie RCMP Detachment continues to police Kapawe’no and Sucker Creek. The Faust detachment continues to police Driftpile and Swan River, and Slave Lake polices Sawridge. While the aboriginal constable service is being formulated, police storefronts will be established in all LSLIRC communities except Sawridge. They will have bilingual signage and posted hours of operation. A contest is being held to name the aboriginal constable service, as well the design of a badge. The contest will be completed by March 31.

Fast start propels Raiders to win over crosstown rival Saints

Prairie River’s Amadeus Giroux, in front, dribbles past St. Andrew’s Saint Justin Monahan.

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

The Prairie River Raiders jumped out to a quick lead and never trailed in winning their season opener 51-39 over their crosstown rivals, the St. Andrew’s Saints. The game marked the first boy’s action in Smoky River Junior High School Basketball League action this season. PRJH led 19-8 after the first quarter. They used their speed and a lack of effort defensively at the St. Andrew’s end of the court in bolting out to a big lead. However, as the game wore on the Saints started to adjust. The bottom line was, for the last three quarters the teams were only one point apart. Nathan Lang-Oke- maw led all scorers with 19 points while Amadaus Giroux chipped in with 16 points of his own. Offensively, they did most of the damage. Jarett Abram and Zach Auger each had six points while Harold Johnson and Colin Bjornson netted two points each. Jared Dumont scored a team high 15 points for the Saints. The rest of the scoring was spread out between four players. Zak Stokes had nine points, Justin Monahan eight, Mike Ochran four and Josh Perry three points. Both teams head into the Christmas break and will not resume action until Jan. 9. The Raiders travel to McLennan to play the Eagles while the Saints play their home opener against Valleyview St. Stephen’s School.

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