Alberta partners with Siksika Nation to create new police service
The province has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Siksika First Nation that states the two sides will try to create a new police service.
Members of the nation have called on all levels of government to bring back a dedicated police service to Siksika after theirs, called the Siksika Nation Tribal Council, was disbanded in 2002 due to funding cuts.
Since then, the nation, located near Bassano, has had its policing needs served by Gleichen RCMP, a hamlet of a few hundred people.
"As soon as you go across the tracks, a 200 person hamlet has an RCMP (detachment)," said Siksika Chief Ouray Crowfoot.
"You would never see that if it was flip flop(ped). You would never see a 200-people First Nation with a police force and a 8,000 (person) municipality without one. So I'm just talking about equitable treatment. It's not been equitable treatment."
The province says establishing a self-administered police service is consistent with the MOU’s guiding principles, which call for Siksika-driven programs and services to address the community’s public safety concerns.
Justice Minister and Solicitor General Tyler Shandro says it is waiting on Ottawa to unfreeze funding to the First Nation and Inuit Policing Program, which has been under review.
"We as a government also believe that this is an important part of reconciliation, and making sure that we're partners with our indigenous communities and helping them make sure that they have the opportunity (to) self-administer policing services,” said Shandro.
Currently, Siksika has peace officers and security to help with public safety.
Peace officers and security help with public safety at Siksika Nation. The Siksika Nation has previously explored the possibility of establishing a new police service.
In 2018, it hired an outside firm to conduct a feasibility study. The provincial government contributed $30,000 toward the study, a third of the cost.
Ottawa recently conducted a engagement process with First Nations to gauge what is needed to help with creating First Nation-driven police services.
It is now in the process of creating legislation that will help implement those services.
Chief Crowfoot says Siksika Nation will meet with the federal government Wednesday, and hopefully discuss the need for policing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.