b'COVER STORYPortage la Prairie Bear Clan volunteersTHE BEAR CLAN PATROLHow communities are keeping themselves safeBy Ashley AlbertT he Bear Clan represents differentPORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, MAN. prevent crime and increase wellness for all things for the different FirstManon Timshel was hired as a part-timecommunity members. Nations across Canada. For some,coordinator for the Portage la Prairie BearBear Clan has this really unique ability to they are medicine people; forClan Patrol in February 2020. She is thebe flexible to the needs to the community. others, they are protectors, or both. Theseonly paid employee, and she manages theOur community was seeing a lot of gaps in are some of the principles that each Bearvolunteers, develops programming andmental health care and addictions, says Clan Patrol chapter incorporates into follows the direction of the IndigenousTimshel. A lot of people were looking their organizations.Womens Council and Elders.for a venue to really get involved in their Bear Clan Patrols are organized groups ofThe Winnipeg Bear Clan went to Portagecommunity and really make a difference. volunteers that patrol the streets of differentto help the new chapter find its footing.Thats what the Portage Bear Clan Patrol is cities. The first Bear Clan Patrol was formedTimshel explains that they were presentedhoping to do.in Winnipegs north end in 1992. It returnedwith a kit full of guidelines, policies, in 2015 after years of hiatus. According toTimshel works with a team of volunteers the Winnipeg Bear Clan Patrols website,procedures, a constitution and that help run the organization. The the group aims to provide security withinmission statement along with otherleadership committee is composed of the the community in a non-threatening, non- important information. patrol captains and run the day-to-day violent and supportive way.Each Bear Clan Patrol chapter is self- operations with Timshel. There are currently This is the approach that two recently- sustained and independent. Our Bear Clanten people on the leadership committee, formed Bear Clan Patrol chapters are alsovolunteers are all local. It is the frameworkwith a few open positions. The Indigenous taking. The Calgary chapter in Alberta andof the traditional Bear Clan that WinnipegWomens Council also helps oversee the the Portage la Prairie chapter in Manitobahelped us set up, says Timshel.chapters operations. have both been formed in the last few years.Last year, the newly-formed organizationCurrently, Portage Bear Clan is running While each Bear Clan chapter is independentheld a community town hall where peoplethree different types of programs. They from the original Winnipeg chapter, theyin Portage weighed in on what they wantedpatrol once a week on Fridays, during both used the same guideline handbook toto see from the Bear Clan Patrol. Citizenswhich they interact with people and hear start the Patrols in their cities.were looking for action that would helptheir concerns, pick up needles and glass 68 The Circle Winter Issue 1 2020'