Treaty 8 Chiefs pushing for First Nations police service

Kapawe’no First Nation Chief Sydney Halcrow (left) and Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta Grand Chief Arthur Noskey

39 Chiefs in Treaty 8 territory are lobbying the provincial government for an all Indigenous police service.

Treaty 8 Grand Chief Arthur Noskey said the chiefs made the declaration in a March 27 assembly because law enforcement agencies operating under other levels of government have been inadequate for First Nations and their communities.

“We are subjugated and subdued to a system based on racism and discrimination, and our women and men are missing and being murdered without proper investigation”

Currently, Alberta has three First Nation police services. The Blood Tribe and Tsuut’ina First Nations each run their own police services. The Lakeshore Regional Police Service serves the five First Nations of the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council Territory, including Sawridge First Nation, Swan River First Nation, Driftpile Cree Nation, Sucker Creek First Nation and Kapawe’no First Nation.

Grand Chief Noskey called Lakeshore an “excellent working police force” and wants to expand the service to cover all Treaty 8 communities.

Sydney Halcrow from Kapawe’no First Nation said LRPS is understaffed and under-resourced with only about 14 officers

Treaty 8 chiefs are calling upon the federal government to implement the declaration and fund First Nation policing needs.

The federal government is currently working with the Assembly of First Nations to develop legislation that recognizes First Nations policing as an essential service, however Noskey said the AFN does not speak for sovereign nations of Treaty 8, and both the advocacy group and federal government have been sent “cease and desist” letters on the matter.