Native Peacekeeping: Challenges and Opportunities of the 1990s (From Self-Sufficiency in Northern Justice Issues, P 141-162, 1992, Curt Taylor Griffiths, ed. -- See NCJ- 141302)

• NCJ Number: 141306
• Author(s): K Dokis; D Webber
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 22 pages
• Sale Source: Northern Justice Soc
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Description
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: From a workshop at the fifth meeting of the Northern Justice Society held in Sitka, Alaska, April 1991.

Annotation

This discussion focuses on the nature of and issues of community-based policing in aboriginal communities in Ontario, Canada.

Abstract

First Nation constables are recruited from the aboriginal communities in which they live. The training these constables receive is identical to that of any other constable in Ontario. New recruits attend an orientation course at the Ontario Provincial Police College. They are then sent to the Ontario Police College at Alymer, where they again receive the same training as any other police constable. First Nation police constables, however, should receive more specialized training, since they must deal primarily with alcohol and drug problems in their home communities. First Nation constables are currently policing 67 territories. The majority of First Nation councils view native police constables as important for effective police- community relations. The program, which was begun by the Ontario Provincial Police in 1975, has been erratic, developing slowly in the 1980's, but Native organizations are beginning to take steps to gain control over their own policing. This effort is being assisted by the Ontario Provincial Police. The current plan is to increase the number of First Nation constables from 130 to 230.