New Peacekeeper joins the force

Donathan Saganash has worn a lot of hats during his almost two-decade career in law enforcement.

Saganash, who is Cree, has served in many Indigenous communities, including as a patrol officer, an investigator, and attaining the rank of deputy director of the Eeyou Eenou Police Force in Mistissini. Most recently, he was policing in the Mi’kmaq community of Listuguj’s police department, located in the Gaspesie region of Quebec.

Now, his latest chapter sees him coming to Kahnawake, joining the Peacekeepers as a constable.

Saganash said that after years of working in smaller, more remote communities in the north, he was looking to try something new.

“I got to know some of the Peacekeepers here in Kahnawake during some training. They mentioned that there was opening within the organization, and I came in,” said Saganash.

So far, in the few weeks he has been in the position, Saganash has said the biggest difference with what he was used to before is the size of Kahnawake and the amount of people - and traffic - in town.

“We definitely did not have that much traffic passing through the communities I was in as they do here in Kahnawake,” said Saganash.

“I feel like policing is policing, no matter where you are, but there are things that are a little bit different in a community that is more secluded, more isolated. Here, it’s like there is really a city feel to things compared to a lot of other communities. It has taken some getting used to, but I learn on the fly, and I got great partners to work with as well.”

Saganash said that so far, he has enjoyed getting to know the community as someone who was not very familiar with it before becoming a Peacekeeper, with the help of the other members of the force.

“I had never really been in Kahnawake before, mostly just passing through or during powwows, but now, I’m seeing the whole community and how everything is structured.” said Saganash. “And the guys here are teaching me about the community, its members, the culture, and the busy parts of town.”

His goal is to take his experience and the teachings about the community and use them to help serve Kahnawa’kehró:non the best he can.

“I want to get to know the community, its members, its culture, and be able to provide policing that is adapted to the Kahnawake Mohawk people, in patrols or investigations or anything like that,” said Saganash.

He has appreciated the welcome and the help the other members of the force have given him so far.

“It has been great. Everybody is great. The team is great,” said Saganash.

The Peacekeepers have appreciated him joining the force, too.

“We are very excited to welcome Donathan to our team. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that comes from 19 years of policing,” said Peacekeepers spokesperson Kyle Zachary. “He has already been out in the community, making connections with community members and learning what makes Kahnawake special. He will be an excellent addition to our roster.”

And, if things align the right way, Saganash is thinking that he could be a part of the roster for a long time to come.

“The intention was to work here for a bit, and if the Peacekeepers would keep me for a long term, then obviously I would take it,” said Saganash.

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