It was interesting to read about Mr. Poser, the Carrier language and the RCMP.
As a child Carrier speaker, our word in Carrier for policemen was "one who takes us away."
Many of us as children would run as soon as a police car was approaching for fear of taking us away or back to Lejac. That was also the case when we had no choice but to speak to a police officer. The thinking, of course, was that they could take us away, even as adults.
Maybe that would explain why police officers were never welcome on reserves prior to the 1970s. That attitude continues to this day. Maybe we need to change the Carrier word for policeman.
Ken Luggi,
Stellaquo
