Band: Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, SK
Hometown: Pelican Narrows, SK
Program: Court Services Administrator applied certificate
Campus: Prince Albert
“Dreams do come true. Persevere and don’t give up. I achieved my goal in five years
and landed my dream job.”
Arielle Merasty speaks from a place of experience when she says, “opportunities don’t
just happen—you dream, you pursue and you achieve.”
When her daughter turned one in 2017, Arielle set a goal of becoming a Cree Judicial
Officer for the Saskatchewan Provincial Court. The Cree Court is the first of its
kind in Canada. Judicial hearings are conducted entirely or partially in Cree. Based
in Prince Albert, the Cree Court travels to sit in four northeastern communities up
to five times monthly.
Arielle began her education journey by enrolling in the Peacekeeper program being
offered in her home community, Pelican Narrows. Upon graduation, Arielle and her entire
class became the first peacekeepers in Pelican Narrows.
Impressed by their success and effectiveness, the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation supplemented
the peacekeepers’ education by enrolling them in the Sask Polytech and Saskatchewan
Ministry of Justice’s Community Safety Officer course.
“My learning experience at Sask Polytech was very positive,” says Arielle. “It motivated
me to continue my education through the Prince Albert campus.”
By 2022, Arielle landed her dream job. She says, “After a lot of hard work, patience,
sweat and tears, I knew I had learned what was required. I achieved my goal in five
years. I was a Cree Judicial Officer.”