1st grads from Manitoba First Nations policing program eager to protect others in their communities

Autumn Lowther joined the Manitoba First Nations Police Service out of a love for her community and to fight for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Her aunt Amanda Sophia Bartlett went missing in 1996.

"My goal is just to protect my sisters. I'm the oldest out of three sisters and also protect my sisters in the community," she said.

Lowther, who hails from Opaskwayak Cree Nation, is one of 10 recruits celebrating their graduation from the service's six-month policing program in Southport, Man., on Friday. The program is the first of its kind for the organization — it partnered with Assiniboine Community College to exclusively train recruits who will become police officers for the Manitoba First Nations Police Service.

Lowther will be travelling to Canupawakpa Dakota Nation and Bird Tail Sioux Dakota Nation in southwestern Manitoba for six months of on-the-ground training.

"I'm excited to learn, to gain new experiences, I'm excited to be involved in the community, I'm excited to hopefully make a difference in other people's lives," Lowther said.

Doug Palson, the chief of the Manitoba First Nations Police Service, said it's challenging right now because everybody is looking for police officers. Palson said they've adapted by focusing hard on creating community connections to find and recruit potential officers. 

The service continues to expand, so more recruits will be needed, Palson said. The organization hopes to be active in Brokenhead Ojibway Nation by the end of the year and has other communities actively looking for service.

The program with Assiniboine Community College highlights the importance of having a police service that is culturally responsive and accountable to the communities it serves. 

If recruitment efforts are successful, they plan on having another class in the fall, Palson said.

"We've had lots of people join our service over the years, but at the entry-level, the recruit training, it's always been having to get seats in other programs," Palson said. "This is one of the first times it's been dedicated specifically for our members."

The program has let them get First Nations candidates to pursue a career in policing knowing it can be a long-lasting and fulfilling job, Palson said.

In some cases, they can even serve their home communities.

The structure of the class includes cultural components with a focus on community and crime prevention by creating community connections, Palson said.