Then Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino (right) signs a Letter of Intent with PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte and Provincial Corrections Minister Christine Tell in October 2022. (Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

By paNOW Staff

FIRST NATIONS POLICING

New funding announced for study to look at Indigenous policing for the PAGC

May 3, 2024 | 2:33 PM

The reality of Indigenous-led policing in northern Saskatchewan took another big step.

On Friday, the provincial and federal governments and Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte of the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC), announced an investment of more than $1.4 million toward a study for implementing an Indigenous-led police service.

According to Vice-Chief Joseph Tsannie of the PAGC, establishing a First Nations police force is something they’ve been working on for a long time.

“We’ve been advocating since 2017 to get to where we are right now,” he said.

The PAGC represents 12 First Nations comprised of 28 communities in northern Saskatchewan Tsannie said there all policing challenges throughout the communities.

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In October 2022, the PAGC and the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan created the PAGC Public Safety Implementation Team to advance work on Indigenous-led public safety initiatives, including Indigenous-led policing.

READ MORE: First Nations Police Chiefs respond to plan to expand Indigenous policing

Saskatchewan has just one First Nation-administered police service: File Hills First Nations Police in Balcarres.

The service has operated for about 20 years, serving five different First Nation communities in Treaty Four Tribal Territory.

Executive Director of the First Nations Chiefs of Police Association (FNCPA), Lennard Busch spoke to paNOW following the funding announcement on Friday.

He congratulated the PAGC on starting this feasibility study, adding they’ve been communicating with member First Nations on this initiative for many years.

“We have learned a lot over the years in terms of best practices, but also risks that are involved in why police services succeed and why they don’t succeed,” said Busch. “So, we’re able to share that type of advice for communities who are moving forward with their nations.”

Tsannie said that the PAGC is being given two years to complete the study and engage with all 28 communities and their leaders.

More staff have been brought in and the PAGC will work with Meyers Norris Penney (MNP) to gather and analyze the data.

“It’s a huge undertaking and we need all the help that we can get to make sure that we get this right,” said Tsannie, who said he was thankful to the ongoing support of the province, the federal government, and First Nations leaders in taking the policing initiative to the next level.

“To start working on this project without our communities, we wouldn’t be able to do it,” he said. “One priority is keeping our communities safe and finding ways to give those opportunities to our young people to start looking into careers into the justice area.”

The 2024 provincial budget invested $267.5 million over five years and $92.5 million per year afterwards for First Nations and Inuit-led policing.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com