» M'Chigeeng Drug Strategy Team

M'Chigeeng Community Safety and Crime Prevention Program

"MAKING M'CHIGEENG A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY, AND TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN"

The above title is the original motto of M'Chigeeng Community Safety Action Team (CSAT), which has now evolved into the regular programming of the First Nation's Health department programming. This is an impressive initiative undertaken by one of the six First Nation communities that we serve to help make our community a safe and healthy place to live. CSAT has since evolved from its' humble beginnings, and it now exists with support from M'Chigeeng First Nation, with the recent hiring of a part-time Community Safety Facilitator. Office space and other administrative support will be provided as well.

The need for crime prevention programming initially began as a result of a well-attended community meeting hosted by the M'Chigeeng Chief and Council approximately 4 years ago. Community members expressed concerns for their personal safety; elders described their increasing uneasiness in their personal security within the community, and there was discussion about youth at risk.

The original CSAT team had made an application to the Safe Communities Foundation (check into this for your community at www.safecommunities.ca) and were pleased to receive program funding. The work of origianl CSAT team resulted in M'Chigeeng being launched as a "Safe Community" on November 18, 2004.

Programming Initiatives:

One main priority is to engage local community development officials and private business owners in our community safety objectives. Previous and current work have included: home safety workshops, which focus upon securing the home, ways to avoid attracting break-ins, and promoting Operation Identification which records serial numbers of household goods; working together with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD);

Currently in the works is a proposed creative endeavour which involves promoting the use of bike helmets for children: when a child is seen biking without a helmet, police visit the parents and give them a choice between the regular fine, and a reduced fine with a visit to a local office to watch a video about the injuries that can result from biking without a helmet. This program would be implemented in conjunction with an incentive component and not necessarily focusing upon punitive action but rather education and awareness.

Many people in the community walk to their destinations, and an area of danger exists between two main highways that run through the community. The community safety facilitator will be looking to develop partnerships with the Public Works department as well as the police to considering adding extra lighting in the dim area, and making it a Community Safety Zone, where extra fines are added for speeding; Ideally, extra fines could be reinvested in community safety initiatives.

On November 7 & 8, 2005, representatives from CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) will be visiting the community to assist in an environment assessment for the community, and they will provide a report of their findings/suggestions for safety improvements which will be presented to the commmunity leaderhsip for their consideration.

Crime prevention programming will work with all groups such as youth and elders to meet any specific or unqiue needs. Some current topic areas are ATV safety, awareness of the Crimestoppers program, Block Parent, and addressing issues related to drug selling and drug use.

On October 31, 2005 the community safety facilitor has publicly asked for community input on safey and crime prevention ideas. A survey has been distributed to all households, and completion is requested by November 7, 2005. You do not need to sign your name to your survey, and all surveys are kept confidential.

For your convenience, the survey will be soon be posted here on the site ASAP. Completed surveys can be dropped off at the M'Chigeeng Post Office during their business hours.

M'Chigeeng welcomes communication with other communities to share ideas for community safety. The community safety facilitor can be contacted at 705-377-5347 - Attention Lana.