First Nations support Fort Macleod bid

FRANK MCTIGHE MACLEOD GAZETTE EDITOR

Two neighbouring First Nations communities reiterated Tuesday their support for Fort Macleod's bid for the police college.    Blood Tribe Chief Charles Weaselhead and Harley Bastien of the Piikani Nation made presentations to the four-member MLA review committee.    "To me it is kind of, shall we say, supernatural," Bastien said of Fort Macleod's bid to win the college. "It's one of those things that was meant to be."    Bastien said that predestination likely began in 1874 when legendary scout Jerry Potts led the North West Mounted Police to what became their first post on the Oldman River.    Bastien said that chance meeting, combined with the strong relationship that developed between the Piikani people and the Mounties, led to Fort Macleod's place in the final four communities bidding for the college.    "I believe the RCMP and First Nations people of this area had a combining force," Bastien said. "That combining force that brought the RCMP is still here today." Bastien told MLAs Ivan Strang, Mary Anne Jablonski, Fred Lindsay and Len Mitzel the Piikani Nation is solidly behind the Fort Macleod bid.    "I think it's the greatest home there could be for this police college," Bastien said.    Weaselhead agreed.    "Our history with Fort Macleod and the North West Mounted Police began many, many years ago," said Weaselhead, whose reserve next year is expected to reach a population of 10,000.    Weaselhead said the Blood Tribe Police would welcome the chance to train members at the police college in Fort Macleod.    At present young people from the reserve who want to train for law enforcement are forced to go to the RCMP Depot in Regina.    "It's taking them out of their home," Weaselhead said.    The need for more police officers is only going to increase as the population on the reserve increases.    "We are 100 per cent behind the application to bring the police college to Fort Macleod," Weaselhead said. "I know it's going to be a big opportunity for southern Alberta, and this whole region of Alberta."