Bear Clan Patrol Edmonton: Beaver Hills House

By: Esther D. 

The Bear Clan Patrol is a nation-wide network of volunteers that assumes the responsibility to provide security to the Indigenous community and the community at large. The local chapter in Edmonton, is the Bear Clan Beaver Hills House, guided by Judith Gale. They currently operate and meet at Churchill Square, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Mornings and walk to folks in need to offer mutual aid  in the Downtown Core area.

The Patrol emphasizes the importance of providing support to the community through non-violent, non-threatening, and non-judgemental approaches. They are a community based group that fosters a sense of safety and solidarity with a mandate that includes respect, awareness, care, compassion, outreach, and committed relationship building. 

They are unique from other agencies as they are essentially a front-line service. They go directly where in-need community members are. They walk around the Edmonton Downtown Core area with carts filled with supplies so that barriers are decreased, specifically for those who are facing mobility issues. They are also different from other agencies because not only do they supply the essential needs of the community, they also engage with community members on a personal level. The Patrol underlines the importance of ensuring that individuals feel wanted, seen, and that they are special. There is no “cookie-cutter” approach to serving the needs of individuals, therefore they engage with people on a one on one basis to ensure that they are not alone and the Bear Clan Patrol is there to support them.

Quoted on their website, which perfectly sums up the work Bear Clan Patrol Beaver Hills House fulfills in Edmonton is, “to respect one is to respect all, to honour one is to honour all. We are all sacred human beings, some have lost their way so it is up to us to help one another through the tough times as we are all one human race on Mother Earth. Hiy Hiy, Mahsi Cho” 

If you would like to know more about Beaver Hills House or contact them, visit their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bearclanedmonton/ as well as their provided phone number, 780-909-9077  

Alternatively, if you would like to read more about Judith Gale and her Human Rights Award, read about her on our website: https://www.jhcentre.org/human-rights-awards 

Judith Gale Video: https://vimeo.com/669902143