The Prince Albert Grand Council is working toward Indigenous led policing in its communities, but Vice Chief Joseph Tsannie  says there is still a long way to go. Recently, the federal and provincial governments announced a total of $1.4 million to fund a feasibility study to figure out what Indigenous led policing would look like.

Vice Chief Tsannie says in the next two years they will engage with their members, community leadership and stakeholders to hear what their priorities and challenges are, and then present a report to both governments.  They will also reach out to the RCMP. He says, “I am hoping that relationship with the RCMP continues to grow, and that support is truly needed. In the spirit of reconciliation, working together, if you want to be true partners, you have got to walk side by side – not behind or in front of one another, making those decisions together for the betterment of our community and for the province.”  Tsannie adds that one thing that will be the foundation in community policing is a cultural understanding.

He notes that Indigenous led policing wouldn’t necessarily mean 100 per cent Indigenous, but there would have to be a cultural understanding component. The feasibility study is a two-year endeavour and then a report will be presented to both the federal and provincial governments. If it is accepted, the process moves on to implementation.

There is still a long way to go, but Tsannie understands that the urgency is there, and the need is immediate. He says, “Communities want it now.55 still have a long way to go, but urgency and need is immediate. Communities want it now. There are challenges currently in a lot of our communities. They want it now, but we need to make sure we have our ducks in a row to make sure we do the best possible job in drafting this report and doing it right.”  The Prince Albert Grand Council represents 12 First Nations, comprised of 28 communities in northern Saskatchewan.