Blood Tribe police chief shares challenges of First Nations Policing

By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on March 17, 2023.

Herald photo by Ry Clarke Blood Tribe Police Interim Chief of Police Grant Buckskin, along with Acting Inspector Rayan Najjar, speaks during Thursday's SACPA session.

The Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs welcomed Interim Chief of Police Grant Buckskin, and Acting Inspector Rayan Najjar from Blood Tribe Police Services Thursday at the Lethbridge Senior Citizen’s Organization.

The two spoke about Indigenous policing and the challenges of First Nation policing, sharing insights into the finer workings of their force.

“A lot of it is the First Nations Policing program itself, one of the biggest things we are looking to get is an essential service designation. Because, like any other program involving any levels of government, the funding can be pulled at any time should they decide to,” said Buckskin.

“We are not in danger, we have been in existence for over 30 years, but that is a risk. There is always that at the back, and we believe it is time that both levels of government, especially the federal government, give us that essential service designation. We are like every other police officer, doing the same work, taking the same risks.”

Including funding, the two also spoke about issues with retention, lack of career progression, community policing models, cultural challenges, lack of resources, policing home communities, pensions, and lack of interest in a career towards policing. “Policing in Canada has really diminished over the last few years,” said Najjar.

“With staffing and retention for First Nations policing programs, it has its limitations on how we can spend operational budgets. Which limits our ability to provide a compensation package like pensions. . . Which causes us the inability to retain those individuals, and they end up going to greener pastures.”

Buckskin notes the biggest challenge comes from funding with resources becoming limited when the budget grows tight.

“Our biggest challenge is our funding program, our funding process. We are part of a tri-partite agreement, which includes the federal government, provincial government, and local leadership in Chief and council. Our funding is provided by the federal government at 52 per cent, and the provincial government at 40,” said Buckskin.

“It wasn’t too long ago we would enter into a five-year agreement; where we don’t have to worry about funding for the next five years. . . Now we have entered the short-term agreements, and they are a year in length, and we are not being treated fairly.”

Buckskin also notes that funding comes out of a pool for all Indigenous police services, creating issues for other departments. “The funding comes out of the program itself, so we are fighting other First Nation police services across Canada for that funding.”

The session helped enlighten the inner workings of a police service, showing that not everything is as cut and dry as seen on TV.

“It’s about awareness. We are police officers, we are funded a little differently, we want to make people aware that these are our challenges, specific to First Nations, the Blood Tribe Police Services in particular,” said Buckskin.

“It’s an awareness thing, not a lot of people are aware of that. We are trying to get that out and hopefully we can gain some traction towards becoming and essential service.”