Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe says he’s relieved following a Federal Court ruling late last month regarding funding agreements for three Indigenous police services.
The Anishinabek Police Service (APS), UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service and Treaty Three Police Service (T3PS) hadn’t received federal funding since March 31, which resulted in Anishinabek Nation, Grand Council Treaty Three and the United Chiefs and Councils of Mnidoo Mnising to all declared a state of emergency.
In a decision handed down on June 30, Federal Court Justice Denis Gascon ordered Public Safety Canada to extend funding for 12 months.
“While this is welcomed news, we continue to look forward to a time when First Nation police services are deemed essential by the government. We have always had peacemakers who were members of our society. First Nation policing services are vital to the safety of our communities and they need to be recognized and funded appropriately,” Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe stated in a news release.
According to the release the most recent proposed policing agreements drafted by Public Safety Canada prohibited First Nation Policing Services from establishing specialized units, such as domestic assault, canine units and other major crime units.
“This does not align with the recently introduced legislation, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act,” the news release added.
