First Nations Cadet Corps (Details)

Name of province/ territory:

Alberta

City/ Region:

Alberta

Description of Initiative:

The First Nations Cadet Corps is a crime prevention progam that engages First Nations youth to provide a safe alternative to involvement in crime, while instilling life skills that will help them become future leaders in their community. This community-led initiative, in place since 2006, is an integral part of the Community Tripartite Policing Agreement in Hobbema, Alberta. It was initiated by the Government of Alberta First Nations Policing Program, with support from the Alberta government, the Department of Public Safety Canada, the RCMP and First Nations groups. Cadets are trained in a variety of skills, and Aboriginal culture and language play a significant role in the program.

Initiative Key Objectives:

The First Nations Cadet Corps seeks to provide First Nations youth with training and community service experience that will prepare them as potential future leaders. The program’s main objective is to encourage First Nations youth to stay in school and become more involved in their communities in a positive way, while at the same time discouraging them from being recruited into gangs and organized crime.

Section Responsible for Implementation:

Alberta First Nations Policing in partnership with Public Safety Canada and the First Nations

Key Contact:

Ron Hepperle
ron.hepperle@gov.ab.ca

Groups/ Agencies/ Key Partners Involved:

  • community groups
  • other police services
  • other government departments/agencies

Level of Involvement (consultative - information sharing) and/or cooperative - direct involvement):

Cooperative

Amount of Time Initiative has been in Place:

Since 2006.

Reason for Undertaking the Initiative:

It was started as an integral part of the Community Tripartite Policing Agreement in Hobbema.

Resources Required to Implement this Initiative:

This program required a significant investment to initiate and maintain. Two police officers were dedicated to implementing and maintaining the program in Hobbema, and there are ongoing operating expenses. The Province of Alberta provides a startup grant of $15,00-$20,000 for Cadet Corps programs. Additional ongoing funding has been available through the Provincial Crime Prevention Fund and the Mounted Police Foundation. The Government of Canada’s National Crime Prevention Centre provided a grant to the community of Hobbema, in the amount of $1 million over three years, a portion of which supported the First Nations Cadet Corps.

Method of Implementation:

The program was advertised within the community. It was never a “pilot,” but rather was a program from the start.

Key Outcomes of the Initiative:

The First Nations Cadet Corps program has encouraged First Nations youth to remain in school and become more involved in their communities. The Cadet Corps has been linked to a decrease in First Nations youth involvement in gangs and organized crime. The inititiave is being replicated in other communities with the support of the Alberta government. Hundreds of youth have been recruited into the Cadet Corps program, in the communities of Hobbema, St. Paul/ Saddle Lake, Turner Valley/Eden Valley, Morley/Cochrane, Rocky Mountain House, and Goodfish Lake, to date.

Availability of a Communication Strategy:

No

Key Messages used to Publicize the Initiative:

N/A

Forms of Evaluation by which the Initiative will be Assessed:

  • N/A

Evaluation Completed or Community Feedback Received:

Yes

Summary of the Outcomes:

N/A

Summary of the Performance Measure Data Collected:

N/A

Economics of Policing Pillars:

Further Details:

N/A

Additional Comments or Suggestions:

This initiative has been ongoing in Hobbema for the past six years. As a result, Alberta has provided assistance and training to other locations on how to start such a group and how to train the new potential cadet leaders.

Record Entry Date:

2013-08-01

Date modified: