'We should be able to go to sleep with our doors unlocked': Sask. First Nations Chiefs call self-administered policing funds
In the wake of the James Smith tragedy, the tribal council that represents James Smith Cree Nation and 11 other First Nations bands is laying the ground work for self-administered policing and improved safety measures.
“If the government can provide that for immediate help, leading of course to self-administered policing,” said Prince Albert Grand Council Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte.
Hardlotte said chiefs from Prince Albert Grand Council will meet with officials from the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety and Indigenous Services Canada Thursday.
He’s asking for the federal government to fast-track funding for a feasibility study on a tribal police force for their 12 nations.
“Very hopeful that we will get that funding because that's where we're at, with what we've been doing, it's been stalled,” said Hardlotte.
He said if all goes well, they could have an announcement as early as next week about funding to improve safety and policing on Prince Albert Grand Council reserves.
Montreal Lake Cree Nation Chief Joyce Naytowhow McLeod said the stabbings at James Smith Cree Nation is not an isolated incident.
She says there have been four RCMP standoffs in Montreal Lake in the last year. In December 2021, a standoff with RCMP in ended with a 28-year-old man dying as a result of an officer involved shooting.
“It affected us in all of our communities,” said Chief Naytowhow McLeod.
She’s calling for more communications between probation officers and band council.
“We don’t get a call from the probation officers, so we don’t know who’s coming in so that’s a big fear,” said Naytowhow McLeod.” We should be able to go to sleep with our doors unlocked.”
She said there’s no on-reserve programs for those exiting jail and the programs they do have on-reserve, like drug and alcohol detox and mental health counseling, are stretched thin.
People are being turned out of the federal correctional system that haven’t been rehabilitated and the provincial jails lack programs for offenders, said Naytowhow McLeod.
She wants a comprehensive after-care plan in probation release terms and for band council justice committees to be informed when offenders are released from jail.
“We have to put our minds together to come up with solutions,” she said. “When they come out from jail and they come to the reserves and there's really nothing there and they go back to the same thing. and they're just constantly in and out of jail.”
Grand Chief Hardlotte said Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu indicated on Wednesday at James Smith Cree Nation, a “willingness” to help First Nations communities implement their own safety and policing measures.
He said at present First Nations bands pay community safety officers, security guards and peacekeepers out of their own capital budgets. He says those positions should be expanded and paid for by the government.
He would also like funding to implement measures outlined in community safety plans.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.