Sioux Valley cadets are dedicated to success

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/06/2010 (5805 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When the Dakota Ojibway Police Service introduced a cadet program for youth at the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, organizers weren’t sure if it would catch on.

But it has proven to be a success with a dedicated core of uniformed cadets who have embraced its mix of discipline and fun.

"They’ve come from start to finish and they love it," lead instructor Alice McKean said during the cadets’ recent final parade of the year.

Run jointly by the Dakota Ojibway Police Service and Sioux Valley Education Authority, the Sioux Valley DOPS Cadet Corps was launched as a pilot project in January for youth aged 12 to 18 years.

The idea was to provide a way for officers to connect with the community while kids would have fun and learn leadership skills.

Based on programs such as Air Cadets, the weekly meetings at the Sioux Valley School included a mix of activities and discipline.

DOPS and Brandon Police Service officers taught the youth about subjects such as fingerprinting, self-defence and identification.

They also received a visit from police dogs and their handlers.

But each meeting also included discipline in the form of marching drills.

In the beginning, some predicted the youths would bolt when confronted with the strict training.

But, while numbers dropped from a high of 54 youths at one point, a dedicated group of 32 remained.

"The more drill, the more discipline, the more rules, they stayed and they grew and it’s absolutely amazing," said McKean, a BPS constable who volunteered her time and was assisted by Assiniboine Community College Police Studies students.

And instructors saw a change in the attitude of some cadets such as 14-year-old Trae Chaske.

Chaske said he became a cadet because he had nothing else to do.

At first, he didn’t like drill and admits to "mouthing off" at instructors.

But then he learned to respect his teachers, himself and his family.

He began to think marching looked "cool" and enjoyed wearing his uniform adorned with a crest designed by a Sioux Valley youth and is now considering a career as a police officer.

McKean said Chaske emerged as a leader. He’d be the first to volunteer and would organize cadets for garbage pickup duty.

During last week’s final parade, Chaske’s hard work was rewarded with a medal as Most Improved Cadet.

It seems Sioux Valley residents have embraced the program, too.

The final parade at the Sioux Valley school was attended by beaming parents and relatives who enjoyed a display of the cadets’ marching skills.

DOPS Chief Doug Palson said the Sioux Valley program will be expanded next year to start in September and run for the school year.

The police force also covers four other First Nations and it’s hoped that similar cadet programs will eventually be held in other communities.