Pubdate: Wed, 02 Aug 2006 Source: Red Deer Advocate (CN AB) Copyright: 2006 Red Deer Advocate Contact: http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2492 Author: Jack Wilson ANTI-GANG UNIT SETS UP SHOP HOBBEMA -- The RCMP have opened an office on the Montana First Nation reserve to house officers dedicated to fighting gang violence on local reserves. The office was opened on Monday, which was also a day marking Montana's treaty day celebration. The RCMP satellite office will accommodate the community response unit that was established earlier this spring to address gangs and violence in Hobbema, said Cpl. Wayne Oakes of RCMP headquarters in Edmonton. The location on the Montana reserve will serve to ensure a more consistent presence in the community, Oakes said. The RCMP and the First Nations in Hobbema signed Alberta's largest community tripartite agreement on March 2. Under the agreement, the First Nations have their own dedicated, onsite, community-based contingent of members from an existing police service, Oakes said. Efforts are made for RCMP services to be staffed by aboriginal police members. The ceremonies were attended by Wetaskiwin MP Blaine Calkins, Montana Chief Carl Rabbit and other First Nations Chiefs Victor Buffalo, Simon Threefingers and assistant chief Gerry Ermineskin and regional Chief Jason Goodstriker of the Alberta First Nations. Other politicians included Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Ray Prins and Wetaskiwin MLA LeRoy Johnson. Hobbema has been beleaguered by gang violence for the last two years. Three rival gangs and what's described as two sub-groups are battling to increase their share of the illegal drug trafficking on the reserves. The violence is mainly occurring among youth. About 60 per cent of the 12,000 people who live on the reserves are under 19 years of age. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman