Fort Smith (Dec 13/04) - Christina Phillips of Fort Smith wants to become a Mountie. She is getting help reaching that goal through a new program for aboriginals.

Since September, Phillips, 21, has been in Yellowknife participating in the RCMP Access Program. There are six young people in the program, which began this year.

"It gets aboriginal people in the North the skills they need to write the RCMP entrance test," she said.

Phillips wrote the test in April and barely missed the qualifying mark. She scored 2.95, but 3.2 out of five is required.

"That's why I decided to go into the access program," she says.

The three-hour exam tests such things as math, English, memory and judgement.

Feeling confident

Phillips says the access program allows up to a year to prepare for the exam.

"I'm going to challenge the test in April," she says, adding she feels confident she will pass. She worked with the RCMP as a summer student and then entered the access program.

"You get to do the actual work," she says, noting she also has a mentor to help her get ready for the entrance test.

Even though she wears a special uniform, she doesn't participate in potentially violent call-outs. However, she accompanies officers on patrol and helps pick up intoxicated people, use the radio and take fingerprints.

"It's something different every day. I don't like to do the same thing every day. It keeps you on your toes."

Phillips, who is of Metis heritage, believes it's important for more aboriginal people to join the RCMP.

"You want more people from the community who know people, and who can relate to them," she says. If all goes well, she hopes to complete RCMP training in Regina by the end of 2005.

"It's pretty intense, but a lot of people I've talked to said they really enjoyed it."

Afterwards, she will serve three years in the NWT.