Community Safety (Peacekeeping)

Of major importance to the Commission is the community safety agenda that must be strengthened through institutional and governance capacity.  Community safety includes peacekeeping, law enforcement, effective intervention and reintegration processes, complemented by an independent oversight body that is currently called the Special Investigations Unit which has added a legal navigator to the Unit. 

First Nation policing issues have been at the forefront throughout this fiscal year. The six police shootings of First Nation citizens prompted the Chiefs of Saskatchewan to call for a public inquiry into the fatal shootings. The Minister of Justice refused to act on the Chiefs’ request; instead, he asked that First Nations provide solutions to the policing concerns. First Nations identified Peacekeeping as an appropriate solution to the concerns voiced by the communities who receive policing services delivered by the RCMP.

In June 2009, the Chiefs-in-Assembly directed the FSIN to negotiate a First Nation Peacekeeping Initiative that would include infrastructure and protocol development, funding, quality training and capacity development.  This negotiation process is also part of the Intergovernmental Table. 

In July 2009, the FSIN facilitated the establishment of a partnership between First Nations University and the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) to design and deliver an Indigenous Peacekeeping Program that would meet the unique needs of First Nation communities. Curriculum was designed by SIAST and First Nations University, and presented to the Indian Justice Commission and the Chiefs who are signatory to the CTA’s for their approval.

At the 10 November 2009 Intergovernmental Table meeting, Canada and Saskatchewan committed to fund the Indigenous Peacekeeping Pilot Training Project.  FSIN, in collaboration with First Nations University, has contracted SIAST to design and deliver levels I and II of the program in four areas across the province: North Battleford, Yorkton, Prince Albert and La Ronge.  Training will begin in January 2010.

The pilot training project will be supported by mentors in each area with a Peacekeeping Coordinator located at FSIN.  More information on the pilot training project will be available by December 15, 2009.