It came about as a result of the ongoing need to assume our traditional responsibility to provide security to our Aboriginal community. Given that the Aboriginal population in Winnipeg is anywhere from 60,000 to 80,000, and is heavily concentrated in certain inner city neighborhoods, it was felt that the community must organize to keep the peace and to assist community members. The concept behind the patrol, then, is community people working with the community to provide personal security in the inner city in a non-threatening, non-violent and supportive way. The Patrol operates out of the Ndinawe Youth Drop In located in the city’s north end.

To provide restoration and maintenance of harmony within the community by:

promoting and providing safety;
conflict resolution;
mobile witnessing and crime prevention;
maintaining a visible presence on the streets;
providing an early response to situations; and
as well as providing rides, escorts and referrals.

The Patrol is a community based solution to crime prevention, providing a sense of safety, solidarity and belonging to both its members and to the communities they serve.

This is achieved in a non-violent, non-threatening, non-judgmental and supportive manner primarily through relationship building and reconciliation.

The Patrol demonstrates a way of being that works in harmony with the broader community rather than in conflict with it and in a relationship that encourages rather than seeking to defeat leadership as it emerges at a local level.

The Bear Clan draws its direction solely from our traditional philosophies and practices.

The concept behind the Bear Clan Patrol, is community people working with the community to provide personal security in the inner city in a non-threatening, non-violent, non-judgmental and supportive way.

The Patrol operates out of the Bear Clan Den located at 584 Selkirk Ave in the city’s north end.

Currently there are well over 1500 men and women involved with the Patrol on a volunteer basis.

Our community recognizes that Indigenous people once had their own territory, language and culture – vibrant and cohesive social, economic and political systems held together by a spiritual worldview and a sacred responsibility to Mother Earth and all of creation.

Most importantly, we recognize that these values, traditions and institutions remain viable today.

With consciousness comes awareness, with awareness comes ownership of personal circumstances, and with collaboration comes change. It is within the context of this approach that the Bear Clan Patrol has been mobilized.

It is an effort to restore to our community the capacity to address our own needs.

It is possible to re-develop our community according to our own values and vision.

There is enough people who have enough vision and commitment to not give up the struggle.

For those of us who take our responsibility seriously to our children and future generations, we can and will, in our lifetime, see the changes that we are fighting for.

We believe that it is critical to develop the knowledge and skills of young people because it is they who will inherit these conditions.

For this reason, our strategies and attention must be directed towards young people.

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