FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Call for Action

FSIN believes First Nations person should be next RCMP Commissioner

Feb 17, 2023 | 10:19 AM

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) is calling on the RCMP to appoint a First Nations person as the police service’s next Commissioner.

This comes as the current Commissioner Brenda Lucki announced she would officially be retiring as of Mar. 17, 2023.

“We’d like to call upon the Prime Minister of Canada and those in power with the RCMP to appoint a First Nations commission to address the historic injustices of the RCMP and provide an unbiased approach to policing Indigenous people,” said Bobby Cameron, FSIN Chief.

The RCMP has 30 days to find Lucki’s replacement. The FSIN believes this is enough time to see that there are a number of accomplished, First Nations law enforcement agents.

“It’s not enough to accept new Indigenous recruits as junior officers. We know change must come from the top down and our people need to be granted the opportunity to hold management positions,” added Cameron.

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According to the FSIN, around five per cent of its employees identify as Indigenous. They state they got this number from RCMP statistics from 2020.

“First Nations people distrust the current policing model. It’s connected to a legacy of trauma from negative interaction with police that continues today, as we see the over-representation of Indigenous people brought before justice, victimized, and incarcerated,” said Dutch Lerat, FSIN Second Vice Chief. “Such an appointment could implement systemic changes throughout the ranks and introduce a service delivery model to address systemic racism.”

The FSIN will also be sending a formal letter to the RCMP.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow