HAY RIVER - Hay River is getting the Northwest Territories' first and, for the time being, only aboriginal community constable, a new position created by the RCMP.

Steve Beck: Hay River resident graduates RCMP training to become the NWT's first aboriginal community constable.

The community's Steve Beck was among the first troop of aboriginal community constables to graduate on April 12 from the RCMP's training academy in Regina.

Beck, 36, said it has always been his ambition to join the RCMP.

"I think it's every kid's dream at some point, whether they admit it or not, to be a Mountie," he said, noting the force is respected around the world.

As an aboriginal community constable, he will be an armed, uniformed officer with the rank of special constable. His focus will be crime prevention and reduction, and building relationships between the community and the RCMP.

"It will be something different," he said. "Hopefully, we can make a change."

Beck, who is of Metis heritage, is anxious to get to work at the Hay River RCMP detachment, beginning April 18.

Among his goals is to start bridging the gap between young people and the police.

Before joining the RCMP, he spent 17 years with the GNWT's Department of Justice, including the past 11 years as a deputy sheriff.

In addition, he runs a trapping program to take young people on the land to experience a traditional lifestyle.

Although he is a fully-certified police officer, Beck said his main priority will not be leading investigations.

"They want to make sure that my priority is trying to stop the crime before it happens, as opposed to just reacting to it," he explained.

Beck was among seven cadets to graduated as aboriginal community constables out of the 10 who started the training.

The troop began training in November as part of a three-year pilot project.

Beck is being welcomed by the Hay River detachment.

"Having an aboriginal community constable at the post is definitely going to help," said Cpl. Robert Gallant. "It's going to help bridge the gap with aboriginal people."

Gallant explained Beck will help other members of the detachment better understand aboriginal culture.

The corporal called Beck a great person, noting his long service as a deputy sheriff and his family's involvement in dog racing and other traditional activities.

It had originally been hoped three aboriginal community constables would have been coming to the NWT, specifically Fort Smith and Yellowknife along with Hay River.

However, Cpl. Wes Heron, media relations officer with the RCMP's 'G' Division, said the two other NWT recruits didn't complete the training in Regina, explaining that can happen for many reasons.

Heron said that means the NWT will have only one aboriginal community constable for duration of the pilot project.

"Steve is going to be a role model," the corporal said, adding Beck will also help with recruiting and as a contact with aboriginal groups.

There is one other graduate from northern Canada - Adrian Pilakapsi of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.

Four graduates are from Manitoba, while another is from Alberta.

"Among other qualities, these cadets will bring to our organization linguistic, cultural and community skills and knowledge that go beyond those taught at depot," said RCMP Commissioner William Elliot in a news release, noting aboriginal communities identified the need for an alternate service delivery.

The aboriginal community constables will enhance but not replace the work of general-duty constables and can provide tactical, enforcement and investigational support to other officers, if required.

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