Feature: Developing an Indigenous police service – The Battlefords News-Optimist

November 1, 2017

Community leaders on the nearby First Nations of Little Pine First Nation and Poundmaker Cree Nation, including Chief Wayne Semaganis of Little Pine, Chief Duane Antoine of Poundmaker, Little Pine councilor-in-charge of justice Richard Checkosis, along with elders, are trying to prevent crime in their communities by establishing an Indigenous police service.

Self-administered policing is one of many initiatives by First Nations people in Canada in recent years to counteract the effects of colonialism, displacement and government policy.

Indigenous police services are currently used in a number of locations across Canada. The Eeyou Eenou Police Force has a number of detachments in Quebec. In Alberta, there are the Blood Tribe Police Service, North Peace Tribal Police Services, Lakeshore Regional Police, and the Tsuu T’ina Nation Police Service. The Aboriginal People’s Television Network produced a series detailing the Stl’atl’imx Tribal Police Service, which has detachments in Lillooet and Mount Currie in British Columbia.

Read More: http://www.newsoptimist.ca/news/northwest-region/feature-developing-an-indigenous-police-service-1.23081404