Chiefs and members of the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC) speak during a press conference in North Battleford on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, where leaders raised concerns about rising violence, addictions and slow RCMP response times in their communities. (Photo/battlefordsNOW)

By battlefordsNOW staff

PUBLIC SAFETY

Ottawa ‘deeply concerned’ as BATC chiefs sound alarm over violence and policing gaps

Dec 5, 2025 | 5:27 PM

Public Safety Canada says it is “deeply concerned” by escalating violence in Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC) communities and is working with Saskatchewan and BATC member nations to improve policing resources and response times, following urgent calls from First Nations leaders earlier this week.

At a press conference Monday in North Battleford, chiefs with BATC said their communities are facing a worsening public-safety crisis marked by shootings, gang activity, drug trafficking and delayed RCMP response times.

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Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man Chief Tanya Stone said, “We recently had shootings,” adding that residents “are well aware of who is responsible for the gang activity.”

She said her nation has spent millions on security but “cannot continue that,” and urged governments to meet directly with First Nations.

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“We do need Canada, and we do need the province at the table to address this very serious issue. This is not an Indian problem. This is a social problem that’s affecting all of us.”

In a statement sent to battlefordsNOW on Dec. 5, Public Safety Canada spokesperson Max Watson said Ottawa shares concerns about rising violence and has committed substantial new funding to First Nations policing programs.

Budget 2024 includes $267.5 million over five years, plus $92.5 million ongoing, for the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program (FNIPP), and $200 million over five years for the First Nations and Inuit Policing Facilities Program (FNIPFP).

He said these investments build on previous Budget 2021 commitments of $540.3 million over five years and $126.8 million ongoing to FNIPP, along with $108.6 million over five years to FNIPFP.

Chiefs and members of the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC) speak during a press conference in North Battleford on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (File photo/battlefordsNOW)

Watson said Public Safety Canada and the Saskatchewan government are working with BATC member nations to renew Community Tripartite Agreements — a concern raised by Sweetgrass Chief Lori Whitecalf, who told reporters her nation’s agreement expired this year and that attempts to negotiate a new one had produced no results.

The department said renewed agreements would support enhanced RCMP policing and an expanded presence of First Nations Safety Officers in communities, funded on a 52-per-cent federal and 48-per-cent provincial basis.

Public Safety Canada said several BATC communities have previously received federal support for community safety planning, including Saulteaux (2015–16), Moosomin (2016–17) and Sweetgrass (2017–18).

Moosomin was subsequently selected for funding through the Northern and Indigenous Crime Prevention Fund and now has an active project running until 2029. Work is also underway with Red Pheasant on the finalization of its Community Safety Plan.

The statement comes as chiefs describe rising pressure on RCMP policing capacity. Whitecalf said her community recently faced a critical incident where officers took “over 45 minutes” to arrive, calling the delay “inhumane.” BATC leaders also said tribal policing efforts launched two years ago had seen “no movement.”

Watson said the federal government remains committed to working with Saskatchewan and the RCMP to improve staffing and response times in First Nations communities.

“Through its Indigenous Affairs division, Public Safety Canada is reaching out to BATC to further discuss the concerns reflected at the press conference.”

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com