First of all, you need communication. You need that open door for communication. The RCMP have to be seen in a first nations community as being allies. They need to come in not just when there's a fight or domestic violence. They need to come in for bike day activities with our children. I know that in our Mi'kmaq communities the RCMP come in when we have our family days and our bike rodeos for the children. It's just to be there, to be seen and valued; it's just to say hi. If they're seen more, then they're appreciated and respected more. If they're only seen once in a while in the community, then you know there are some problems. We don't always have problems. We have good things that happen in our first nations communities. We need to see them in a good light. There are very good RCMP officers. We have worked with many of them. Then again, there are bad ones as well.
I think if we see them out there, and if communication and conversation are there, that makes a big impact on the welcoming of the RCMP into the communities and for us to have a career in that area, especially for our youth.