Prince Albert Grand Council receives $1.4 million for next step in exploring self-policing

The Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) is taking the next steptoward creating its own policing system.

The goal is to create an effective and culturally appropriate police service, according to the PAGC, which represents 12 First Nations spread throughout 28 communities in northern Saskatchewan.

This week the federal and provincial governments announced theywill provide the council with $1.4millionto conduct the next steps in a feasibility study.

Vice-Chief Joseph Tsanniesaid PAGC will now go out to the various communities and see what they would want community policing to look like.

"We know a lot of the challenges that are out there already, but we want to make sure that we try and get the grassroots people involved into the design of this model to to try and do the best we can," Tsannie said in an interview Friday.

The community safety needs analysis has a two-year timeline, Tsannie said.

Tsannie said there is urgency from community members to get self-policing started, but that the PAGC wants to ensurethe job is done right.

He said the reasons for self-policing are simple.

"We can do a good job, when we have our own people working in the communities that have that connection to our community, and have that understanding about the culture and where we come from, and the unique challenges that we have in our communities," said Tsannie.

PAGC efforts to exploreself-policing date back to 2017, but it wasn't until2022 when things seriously got underway. That's when the PAGC and the federal and provincial governments announced the creation of thePAGC Public Safety Implementation Team.

WATCH | (From 2022)Sask. First Nations establishing community policing with Ottawa's help:

Sask. First Nations establishing community policing with Ottawas help

2 years ago

Duration 2:06

First Nations in Saskatchewan, including James Smith Cree Nation, are working to establish community-led police services as part of efforts to improve community safety. The federal and provincial governments have signed on to assist.

PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlottedescribed the new funding as a "key milestone" in the partnership with the federal and provincial governments.

In a news release, both the provincial and federal governments stressed that this is the next step in a large project.

"Today's announcement is in keeping with the collaborative approach which has guided us throughout our discussions. I look forward to continuing to work with [the Prince Albert Grand Council]to ensure the safety of their member communities," Dominic LeBlanc, federal minister of public safety, is quoted as saying.

Paul Merriman, the provincial minister of correction, policing and public safety, agreed.

"This is one of many steps the province is taking to ensure our communities are safe, secure and strong," Merriman is quoted as saying.