Released on March 2, 2010
The Government of Saskatchewan, in partnership with Public Safety Canada and the File Hills Tribal Council today announced a pilot project that will introduce peacekeepers to the File Hills Tribal Council.
Under the two-year pilot, five peacekeepers will be assigned to the File Hills First Nations Police Service. Their role will be to support the seven officers currently on the police service by developing crime prevention and public awareness programs that speak to the needs of the community for greater involvement and cultural awareness.
"This project gives the File Hills First Nations an opportunity for greater input into the policing services they receive in their communities," Premier Brad Wall said. "It also demonstrates our government's commitment to helping Saskatchewan people feel safer in their homes and communities."
"This initiative represents an important step forward in the process of providing First Nations communities with enhanced policing services," Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister D. F. (Yogi) Huyghebaert said. "We can also use this pilot program as a model for developing similar peacekeeping programs on other First Nations in the province."
File Hills First Nations Police Service is currently the only First Nations self administered police service in Saskatchewan. The cost of the project is $300,000 annually for two years, cost shared with Public Safety Canada. Public Safety Canada pays 52 per cent. The province pays 48 per cent.
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For more information, contact:
Judy Orthner
Corrections, Public Safety and Policing
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5883
Email: judy.orthner@gov.sk.ca