Siksika Nation and the governments of Alberta and Canada have reached a deal that will allow Siksika Nation to take over policing responsibilities from the RCMP. This will be Canada's first self-administered First Nation police service in 14 years.
In July, Alberta and Siksika Nation signed a memorandum of understanding to work towards establishing a self-administered First Nations police service in Siksika. Less than two months later, Siksika Nation Chief Ouray Crowfoot and Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Tyler Shandro have successfully brokered the deal with federal Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino.
Shandro says he fully supports creating this new independent police service.
“Alberta’s government unequivocally supports self-administered First Nations policing. With nearly 8,000 residents and one of the largest geographic footprints of any First Nation in Canada, the Siksika Nation is ready and prepared to take this critical step and become the fourth self-administered First Nation police service in Alberta,” he said.
Chief Crowfoot also believes this Siksika police will greatly benefit Siksika Nation.
“The recent tragic events in Saskatchewan have underscored the importance of First Nations policing. Every individual has the inherent right to safety and security, and establishing a Siksika-administered police force will help secure this right," he said.
Crowfoot added the Nation is now developing a prosecutor's office, which he says is the first of its kind in Canada.
This Siksika police service has been in the works since 2018, as the Alberta Government provided $30,000 to the Siksika Nation for a feasibility study for a new police service.
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