Fort Resolution (Feb 27/06) - Cpl. Neil Flett of the RCMP has made a little bit of history in Fort Resolution.

Since arriving in the community last year, he has been told by many residents that he is the first aboriginal Mountie to serve at the detachment. Flett is also the first native person to be in charge of the detachment.

Flett says he has received a very warm welcome from the community. "A lot of elders said they were very happy to see me."

The corporal says he also feels very much a role model for young people in Fort Resolution, which is overwhelmingly First Nations and Metis.

Flett is originally from the Opaswayak Cree First Nation in Manitoba, although his mother is Gwich'in from Old Crow, Yukon. The 44-year-old father of four young children has been a Mountie for two decades, and has served in the NWT for over six years.

"I requested a transfer to the Northwest Territories," he says. "I love the North. I wanted to experience different communities in the North and I had a lot of desire to come here."

Before arriving in Fort Resolution in August, he served in Fort Smith, Lutsel K'e and Inuvik. He also served for 13 years with detachments in northern Saskatchewan. Flett explains he joined the RCMP for the opportunity to travel the country, see different lifestyles and help people and their communities.

Flett says his experience in Fort Resolution has been very positive.

"Fort Resolution has been, so far, just excellent," he says. "People here have been very friendly."

The corporal also credits the members of the detachment who came before him, especially Cpl. Sylvain Lemoyne, with establishing good relations with the community.

"It was easy for me to make the transition," Flett says. "Sylvain and other members did an excellent job to bridge the gap between the police and the community."