Indigenous peacekeepers to assist in non-police-related issues – SaskToday.ca
December 3, 2025
The peacekeepers will be trained in verbal judo – a de-escalation tactic.
SASKATOON — The City of Saskatoon is set to launch a pilot Indigenous peacekeeper program to provide de-escalation techniques when responding to incidents involving people dealing with mental health and addiction issues. City council approved $300,000 in one-time funding on Nov. 28 for the one-year project.
Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) Chief Mark Arcand told SaskToday that the program will begin once all details are finalized, with the possibility of deploying the first batch of peacekeepers sometime in December, January or April next year. Once the administrative side is completed, the program will be a new approach to improve public safety and address concerns through non-police-related responses.
