FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RENEWS FIRST NATIONS POLICING POLICY AND PROGRAM
OTTAWA-The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the First
Nations Policing Policy (FNPP), created in 1991 to provide improved
policing services for First Nations communities across Canada, Solicitor
General Herb Gray announced today.
"The Government renewed this initiative because it is committed to
improving police services for First Nations communities. The FNPP is
another example of the government's commitment to its 'Safe Homes/Safe
Streets' agenda," said Mr. Gray.
"The renewed policy places an increased emphasis on public safety,
especially the protection of vulnerable groups such as women and
children. In addition, we have made the FNPP more flexible, to make it
easier and more efficient to administer," Mr. Gray said.
For First Nations communities, the policy means:
A key role for First Nations communities in choosing a police service
which respects their culture and traditions and accommodates their desire
for increased authority and greater control over matters affecting their
communities;
Continuing improvements to the administration of justice, the
maintenance of social order, public security and personal safety,
especially of vulnerable groups, such as women and children;
Police service accountability to the community it serves; and
Police services that are at the same level and of the same quality as
police services provided to other Canadians.
Under the agreements, the federal government pays 52% and the provincial
government 48% of the cost of the police service created under the FNPP.
The agreements are worked out in discussions among the two levels of
government and the First Nations concerned.
First Nations police officers have the same powers as any other police
officer in Canada, and enforce the Criminal Code, provincial laws and
band by-laws.
The FNPP has been very successful, with 91 tripartite agreements already
in place. More than half of the eligible population is now covered by
tripartite agreements under the program.
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Reference:
Dan Brien
Communications Assistant
Solicitor General Canada
(613) 991-2874
1996-037
Internet @ http://www.sgc.gc.ca/
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October 1996
BACKGROUNDER
RENEWED FIRST NATIONS POLICING POLICY
The First Nations Policing Policy (FNPP) was introduced by the federal
government in June 1991 to provide First Nations across Canada access to
police services that are professional, effective, culturally appropriate,
and accountable to the communities they serve.
The FNPP, administered by the Department of the Solicitor General,
operates on the principle of partnership. Under the Policy, the federal
government, provincial and territorial governments and First Nations work
together to negotiate tripartite agreements for police services that meet
the particular needs of each community. The policy applies to all Indian
reserves, to certain other Indian communities on Crown land and to Inuit
communities.
When the Department of the Solicitor General assumed responsibility for
the administration of the FNPP in April 1992, it made a commitment to
assess its impact and effectiveness at the end of the first five years.
An independent review of the first five years of operation of the FNPP
found the policy to be "relevant, sound and on-track". The review also
found that provincial, territorial and most First Nations partners
believe the tripartite process is the most effective way to address First
Nations policing at this time.
On the strength of this review, the federal government reaffirmed its
ongoing commitment to the FNPP, and approved minor changes to the Policy
in the Spring of 1996. The changes address suggestions raised in
implementing the Policy and by the policy review.
While the fundamental elements of the policy remain unchanged, the
revisions to the FNPP highlight its public safety dimension, particularly
for women, children and other vulnerable groups. The revisions also
highlight a renewed commitment to supporting First Nations to become
self-sufficient and self-governing, and to maintaining partnerships with
First Nations based on trust, mutual respect and participation in
decision-making. In addition, flexibility has been added to certain
areas of the FNPP to simplify its administration.
For instance, the policy now provides greater flexibility in the use of
non First Nations police officers under the terms of First Nations
policing agreements, subject to the approval of the First Nations
involved. This is in response to concerns expressed by First Nations, the
RCMP and several provinces regarding the existing pool of fully trained
First Nations officers.
What is important about the FNPP is that First Nations decide what type
of police service is best suited to their needs. For instance, First
Nations can decide to set up their own police service, or use a special
contingent of First Nations officers within an existing police service,
such as the OPP or the RCMP.
The federal government pays 52 per cent and the provincial or territorial
government 48 per cent of the government contribution toward the
development and upkeep of First Nations police services. First Nations
communities are encouraged to help pay for the cost of maintaining their
police service, particularly for enhanced services.
To date, 91 First Nations policing agreements have been signed. There
are now over 600 fully trained First Nations police officers serving 240
communities across Canada. Roughly half the eligible population is
covered by tripartite policing agreements and an additional 30-some per
cent have some form of First Nations policing through arrangements that
pre-date the FNPP.
A new policy guide reflects the changes approved by the government and
replaces the earlier guide which was published in 1992. The new guide
can be found on Solicitor General Canada's Internet site at
http://www.sgc.gc.ca.
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For more information:
Aboriginal Policing Directorate
Solicitor General of Canada
340 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0P8
Tel: (613) 991-0241
Fax: (613) 991-0961
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HIGHLIGHTS
First Nations Police Services:
Highlights of recent First Nations police services created under the
First Nations Policing Policy:
Unama'ki Police Services Agreement:
Established in 1994, the Unama'ki Police Service is the first independent
First Nations police service in Atlantic Canada. For the past two years,
Aboriginal police officers have been providing police services to four
Mi'kmaq communities on Cape Breton Island. According to Chief of Police
John Toney, the FNPP has ensured that the Mi'kmaq people receive policing
services from officers who understand their concerns and their language:
"We believe very strongly in the aspect of First Nations policing. The
First Nations Policing Policy addresses many of the concerns that have
plagued the First Nations people for so long. Policing your own, in your
own language, is the key success to this initiative."
Amerindian Police Council
Last month, the Amerindian Police Council (APC) and thirteen member
communities signed tripartite agreements with the governments of Quebec
and Canada. The agreements have enabled the communities to strengthen
their local police services and take advantage of the APC's expertise in
areas of training, financial support and human resources. According to
Chairperson Albert McBride, the tripartite agreements demonstrate that
governments and First Nations can work together to achieve success:
"The agreements enable our communities to take another step towards
self-government...They also recognize the ability of Aboriginal
communities to manage their own affairs, in cooperation with the Quebec
and Canadian governments."
Anishinabek Regional Policing Agreement:
The Anishinabek Police Service (APS) was established in 1993 to provide
culturally appropriate police services to four First Nation communities
in central Ontario. Presently, the APS is in the process of expanding to
provide police services to an additional twelve Ontario First Nation
communities. Chief of Police Glen Bannon said:
"Under the First Nations Policing Policy, in cooperation with Canada and
Ontario, our member nations, the police governing authority and senior
police management, we are able to deliver a culturally sensitive,
community based peacekeeping service to our member nations in the spirit
of partnership with all nations honouring each ones uniqueness and the
creator's gift with dignity and respect.
Canada-Saskatchewan-File Hills Community Tripartite Agreement:
Saskatchewan has had great success with the First Nations Policing
Policy, dating back to 1993 when the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian
Nations, and the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan signed a
Framework Agreement. The Agreement provides the foundation to negotiate
Community Tripartite Agreements (CTA) with the RCMP.
The File Hills Agency RCMP- First Nations Community Policing Service was
created in 1995 and provides police services to 5 First Nations in
central Saskatchewan. Lloyd Desnomie, Chairperson of the File Hills
Police Management Board agrees that the FNPP is successful because
community members can get to know their police officers on a more
personal level:
"Policing in our communities is working so much better than before. The
whole concept of community based policing means that the RCMP members are
right there, seeing the way we live, knowing what we want from them. The
First Nations Policing Policy is certainly headed in the right
direction."
The Hobbema Police Service Tripartite Agreement:
It's been two years since the Hobbema Police Service was created under the
First Nations Policing Policy. Serving 3,100 First Nations people in
central Alberta, the residents of Ermineskin and Montana now have a police
service comprised of professionally trained Aboriginal people who are
responsive to the unique needs of the community. As Marvin Littlechild,
Chairperson of the Hobbema Police Commission noted on the day the
agreement was announced:
"Signing this agreement is achievement for our First Nations
communities... Community-based policing services dedicated to the
well-being and safety of our people are a very positive development."
October 1996