Siksika Nation is on the path to having its own peace officers and police officers.

A moment of silence held in solidarity with First Nations across Canada for the 215 children buried at a residential school in B.C., was held at the opening of the first live stream update of Siksika Nation on Wednesday afternoon.

In attendance, were Chief and Council, Siksika Nation dignitaries, and members of the local RCMP.

Carlin Black Rabbit, the task force chair for public safety, spoke about the changes to the speed limit on Highway 901. Siksika Nation is working to assess the highway and intersections and merges that come off of the highway. The speed was lowered from 100 k/h to 80 km/h

“We want to ensure that there is safety on our highways,” he said.

He announced that Siksika Nation has received authorization to have its own peace officers.

“Our goal is to have our own police force back,” said Chief Ouray Crowfoot. He said they are also working to have a satellite RCMP office near the east corner of the First Nation. They have three trained peace officers from the community.

They are also working on submitting a tribal policing application to be submitted to the federal and provincial governments.

Councillor Ruben Breaker explained that the RCMP has also increased patrols of the highway and now Siksika Peace Officers will be able to monitor the highway as well.

Constable Cassandra Webster presented statistics to the public. She said there was a 31 per cent increase to enforcement on Highway 901, or 162 traffic stops in Siksika Nation. The majority of which were speeding offenses on Highway 901.

The RCMP provincial traffic unit was also brought in to patrol that highway, coming to roughly $17,000 in fines focused on speeding.

There has now been a decrease in speeding and traffic issue calls on the highway.

She cautioned as summer approaches that the patrols will continue.