| Proposed Mushkegowuk Division of the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS)
First of all and with the utmost respect, we acknowledge, honor and commend our community police officers for their bravery, care, dedication and hard work.
In our Human Rights Complaint to Canada and Ontario filed on July 12, 2007, our complaint alleges that Canada and Ontario are providing policing services and facilities to the Mushkegowuk First Nations that are of substantially lower quality compared to those provided to non-Aboriginal Ontarians (Jul 12/2007, M. Klippenstein on behalf of Mushkegowuk).
In May 2009, the Chief Coroner’s office for Ontario releases an Inquest Report on the 2007 Kashechewan Police Station fire that needlessly takes the lives of two young community members. The Coroner’s Report contains 86 recommendations that directs Canada, Ontario, and Nishnawbe Aski Nation, and Nishnawbe Aski Police Service to address several serious problems with the existing aboriginal policing program and facilities. The Office of the Grand Chief is calling on Canada and Ontario to establish an Intergovernmental Committee to oversee the timely implementation of the inquest recommendations.
In their annual 2009-2010 Annual Report, Robin Jones, Acting Chief of Police for NAPS, reports that “NAPS continues to be significantly underfunded.” Frank Mckay, Chairperson for NAPS, reports that
“NAPS is a program that is underfunded and cannot respond adequately to the needs of our communities”.
There exists more than enough reports with evidence and findings that confirm policing in the Mushkegowuk First Nations (and all other First Nations) is very poor, unacceptable, possibly discriminatory, and not in compliance with several federal and provincial government requirements for community policing.
In March 2010, after many discussions and meetings regarding policing service in our communities, the Council of Chiefs supported a strategic approach that involves developing a business plan for a Mushkegowuk Division of NAPS. At our 2010 Mamohitowin (Annual Assembly), the Mushkegowuk Council and NAPS signed a Memorandum of Agreement to develop a business plan for the proposed Mushkegowuk Division with NAPS. The MOA includes establishing a Working Group on Policing for this important project. The objectives for creating this business plan are;
- To explore, find and propose a unique community based policing service that is
culturally sensitive and is conducive to our geographic location;
- Through the proposed new community police service, identify and propose programs that aim to reduce the high number of criminal related incidents and to provide improved and effective after care programs;
- To identify and assist with securing additional funding required to successfully and effectively operate the proposed police service;
- To search and form new partnerships for an improved policing service in the Mushkegowuk region;
- To develop and provide a comprehensive police service;
- To design a community policing model that could be used in other NAN communities;
- To present a detailed Business Plan for the establishment and operation of a Mushkegowuk Division of NAPS;
- To improve the quality of police services and life the Mushkegowuk territory.
Some methods and strategies for enhancing our police services will include strengthening community and police relations, creating new partnerships, enhancing the cultural programs, doing some restructuring, addressing justice issues, increasing community involvement, empowering our aboriginal police officers, examining policies, procedures and agreements, and several other strategies as directed by the communities. Efforts to secure the funding required to begin this work is in progress. Grand Chief Stan Louttit continues to take a lead role with lobbying various federal and provincial government ministries for support.
(Nov. 26/2010)
State of Emergency on the Suicide Crisis in the Mushkegowuk Region
The Mamohitowin of the Omushkegowuk provided a healthy united forum for us to speak about suicide, to share our personal experiences, and provided much needed support for each other. The emotions and words expressed by the family members directly affected by suicide sent very clear messages for us to continue working together on addressing this epidemic. Family members directly affected by suicide also spoke strongly and bravely about the need for more support, programming, spiritual guidance and healing.
As directed by the Emergency Summit, on May 13/10, Grand Chief Stan Louttit declared a “State of Emergency” on the Suicide Crisis in the Mushkegowuk region. This declaration was communicated to the public, governments of Canada and Ontario, and ourselves the Mushkegowuk First Nations. The declaration called upon the leadership, communities and governments to do their part to respond to this serious health emergency. It appears that the Mushkegowuk communities definitely did their part by conducting community meetings, working together, directing more resources to the suicide crisis, and the youth also taking action in various forms that include, organizing events, supporting each other, attending meetings, and making change happen. Although later than we expected, the federal and provincial governments eventually responded by providing additional funds for more mental health services, new funding for various programs that includes the development of a Regional Crisis Response Unit/Team to provide support for a community in crisis.
Following the May 2010 Emergency Summit, the Mushkegowuk Council took a lead role with getting all the major regional mental health service providers to collaborate on this serious health crisis. The regional mental health service providers include the community health programs/crisis response teams and coordinators, Weeneebayko Health Authority, James Bay Mental Health Services, Payukotayno, Health Canada, and North East Local Health Integration Network. From our regional mental health service providers, a Working Group has been established and mandated with creating a Regional Crisis Response Unit/Team. As well, the office of the Grand Chief continues to lobby the governments for funding to conduct a Public Inquiry into the high rate of suicide in our communities. The Mushkegowuk Council, in collaboration with the Working Group is in the process of planning and preparing for the 2nd Summit on the Suicide Crisis. The next Summit on the Suicide Crisis is tentatively scheduled for January 18 – 20, 2011. If any of you have any suggestions for the next summit, please let us know.
As directed by the 2010 Mamohitowin of the Omushkegowuk, State of Emergency on the Suicide Crisis will remain in effect until such time the Regional Crisis Response Unit is activated and funding is confirmed to conduct a Public Inquiry. As well, through research and collaboration with various partners, we will be exploring and pursuing short and long term strategies that will create global awareness and generate revenue for addressing suicide in the Mushkegowuk region
Suicide continues to adversely affect every person, home and community in our region. And, it is going to take us a long time (possibly never for some) to recover. We need to continue on through this journey together.
(Nov. 26/2010)
Mushkegowuk
Council
P.O. Box 370, 12 Centre Road, Moose Factory, ON, P0L 1W0
Phone: 705-658-4222 • Fax: 705-658-4250 |
