Feds to fund first steps toward establishing First Nations policing as essential service

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair says he understands the urgency of adequately funding First Nations policing in order to provide security for First Nations communities.

“This is a very important thing we must undertake in order to ensure your communities and the nations are appropriately policed and safe … and that policing should be culturally competent,” Blair told chiefs at the Assembly of First Nations virtual annual general meeting on Dec. 8.

Blair announced that the AFN would be receiving $1.5 million to engage in initial dialogue that will lay the groundwork for a framework towards co-developing legislation which recognizes First Nations policing as an essential service.

“I think we also have to ensure that in… co-production of that new legislative framework we first of all acknowledge the important principle of self-determination. We acknowledge the jurisdiction and the authority of the First Nations to make a determination on how they wish to be policed,” said Blair. He stressed this announced funding was only seed money.

Since 1991, Canada has funded policing for First Nations and Inuit communities as discretionary programs, providing no funding longevity for planning purposes. The policing program is also underfunded, said Blair, which leads to inadequate equipment and inadequate training.

Chief Peter Collins of Fort William First Nation pointed out that the Anishinabek Police Force is unable to deal with gun-, drug- and gang-related incidents that have crept on to his reserve from nearby Thunder Bay, Ont. because of that underfunding.

Blair acknowledged that inadequacy, and also pointed to a failed attempt by the federal government to stream money through the provinces for such investigations by police services in First Nations and municipalities.

“I will suggest to you that didn’t work as well as I hoped it would work,” he said.

Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron told Blair that RCMP detachments on reserve often times refuse to enforce band council resolutions, which was also an issue when it came to enforcing coronavirus pandemic restrictions on reserve.

Cameron said confidence has been lost in RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki, who earlier this year said she struggled to define what systemic racism was and to acknowledge its existence in the RCMP.

“Commissioner Brenda Lucki should have stepped up when she had the opportunity and admitted it, just like you did, Minister Blair, that there is systemic racism within the RCMP detachments right across this country,” said Cameron. “We need to fix it and we need to fix it right away.”

The AFN has called for the resignation of Lucki.

Blair, who served a lengthy career in law enforcement in Ontario, said the day he became a police chief he acknowledged the existence of systemic racism.

“If you can’t even acknowledge it exists, how can you do anything about it? And so, I think that acknowledgement is important,” Blair said.

Still, he did not call for Lucki to step down.

“I’ve had a number of conversations with the commissioner. I appreciate that, initially, she’s struggled with it. But I’ve had some very close conversations with the commissioner. I believe she’s very sincere. She understands the importance of addressing this within her organization and we will work to make sure we make the changes that are necessary,” said Blair.

In an address earlier in the day, AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde said a complete overhaul of the RCMP was needed in recruitment, training and operations.

“We are calling for action to actively and aggressively eliminate racism and discrimination in every aspect of the RCMP,” said Bellegarde.

“At this point the need could not be more clear,” he said.

“The safety and security of all First Nations is a priority for the AFN and we will continue to apply pressure on federal and provincial governments to address systemic racism in policing,” said Quebec/Labrador Regional Chief Ghislain Picard, who co-chairs the AFN’s chiefs’ committee on police and justice.

Picard said the AFN had advocated for $500 million from Canada for community safety infrastructure and $3 billion for enhancements to the First Nation policing program.

“We know that when First Nations have control over their own policing services, all First Nations people are safer,” said Picard.

British Columbia Regional Chief Terry Teegee, who co-chairs the committee with Picard, stressed that the entire criminal justice system and correctional system needed to change. He pointed out that rates of incarceration were now 30 per cent First Nations while First Nations adults represent only four per cent of the Canadian adult population.

Blair acknowledged there were “issues” of systemic and structural racism beyond the RCMP.

He said he and Justice Minister David Lametti had been directed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to examine a “number of areas of very significant systemic reform to address those systemic and structural matters within the criminal justice system that give rise to very disparate outcomes for Indigenous people.”

Some of those measures that impact Indigenous people, he said, include the lack of bail, lengthy sentences, high incarceration rates, low pardons, and lack of access to diversion and justice restoration programs.

Teegee said the AFN had been advocating for $750 million to establish restorative justice programs in First Nations communities.

“We will continue to advocate on behalf of First Nations to ensure that we see a justice system that understands and values First Nations people,” said Teegee.

During the assembly, chiefs passed an omnibus resolution that combined four resolutions that dealt with discrimination and racism, including one that called for reform to address institutional racism in the justice system.

Local Journalism Initiative Reporters are supported by a financial contribution made by the Government of Canada.