â–º Listen Live

Onion Lake RCMP and Onion Lake Cree Nation launch gang awareness and prevention project

Onion Lake RCMP and Onion Lake Cree Nation are releasing their latest project promoting their gang awareness and prevention (GAP) resources.

The GAP project is a series of awareness pieces including videos, information booklets and posters for different members of the community such as parents, elders, youth and service providers. The booklet will be available in English, Cree, Michif, Dene and French.

Laili Yazdani, Community Program Officer for the Crime Prevention/Crime Reduction Unit, says it has been a long-term project stemming out of a Chief and Council drug forum in 2017.

“During these forums, there were requests to increase community awareness about drugs and gangs. It took some time but the GAP project was later initiated in consultation with the Onion Lake Treaty Governance Office and the Elder’s Council. We worked together to look at what we could put together to help the community and surrounding communities that may be dealing with some of these issues.”

Yazdani adds the project is one component of the Saskatchewan RCMPs Gang Strategy. Inspector Tammy Patterson says it will be another tool to raise gang awareness and gang prevention along with the End Gang Life materials.

“This material will enhance and compliment that program which we hope to continue using in schools in partnership with communities and other community based organizations.”

Yazdani is also working on creating a provincial Youth Consultative Committee to help further expand the RCMPs Gang Strategy.

The Ekweskeet Healing Lodge is a drug and alcohol treatment centre featured in the first video and is located in Onion Lake. Carmen Carter-Mountain, a Prevention and Outreach Worker with the lodge, says awareness is key to change within the community.

“Our community is a strong community where we know a problem is there and we know that something needs to be done. One thing about our community is that when we come together, we are strong and we all show each other love and support.”

She hopes the project will help encourage individuals to avoid trying drugs and joining gangs.

A total of five videos will be released on the Onion Lake RCMP Facebook page, the RCMP Youtube channel and are available upon request by contacting the Crime Prevention/Crime Reduction Unit.

Yazdani mentions she hopes to hear some feedback from those using the materials.

“Hopefully, people will share some feedback with how they’re using it. The videos for example maybe they can be used in schools or with youth groups. It’ll be interesting to see how that shapes and develops.”

The GAP project is funded by the Government of Saskatchewan’s Rural Crime Innovation Fund.

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Mural Fest making a creative splash at the Lloyd Ex Fair

Mural Fest is splashing paint in a creative way onto drab concrete surfaces with stunning effect, as the Lloyd Ex Fair is underway in Lloydminster.

Tip off leads to woman being charged in drug trafficking investigation

On July 4, 2025, after checking tips received from Crime Stoppers, members of the Lloydminster RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) carried out a search warrant under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act at a property in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation.

Sask returns fire ban north of provincial forest boundary

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has issued a fire ban effective at 8 a.m. on July 10, 2025, due to high fire activity and extreme fire risk.

Wainwright wins best overall float in Lloyd Ex Fair Parade

The parade float from the Town of Wainwright has won this year's best overall float at the Lloyd Ex Parade.  

Sask drug court expands to the Battlefords

The Saskatchewan drug court is expanding to North Battleford and west central areas of the province. In June, the North Battleford Provincial Court held its first sitting.
- Advertisement -