reviewed by Prince Albert Police Service (PAPS) Women Commission to look at how the Saskatchewan Police Service measures up a report about missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.
The final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Killed Indigenous Women and Girls and Calls to Justice contains 231 calls for justice directed to various governments, institutions, social service providers and industries, calling on police agencies to acknowledge those historic practices has been done who have caused harm. Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
It also calls upon the police to build relationships based on that understanding and awareness.
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The Women’s Commission was created in 2022 and is chaired by Elder Liz Setty and PAPS Pastor Nora Vedres. It also has local leaders who are experts in addictions, mental health, gender and sexual diversity, integrity management, indigenous tradition and support for victims of trauma and violence.
The commission recognized a list of things that PAPS is doing well, but acknowledged that hate crimes and violence are still prevalent within the community.
“According to hate crimes and violence statistics, 2SLGBTQIA+ Canadians continue to face harassment and physical attacks and represent the third largest category after race and religion,” said Jennifer Lenny, a member of the commission.
“Hate crimes against gender identity are on the rise. As a member of the Prince Albert Police Service Women’s Commission, I look forward to continuing to be a voice for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and help build a positive relationship between the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and police ”
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Some of the efforts listed by PAPS to create awareness and support truth and reconciliation include a consultation partnership with the Prince Albert Grand Council and Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, opportunities for members to take Cree language classes, and community events such as the annual Pride Parade, Raid includes participation. Dress Day and the Heart of the Youth Powwow.
PAPS chief Jonathan Bergen said the commission aims to build trust within the community by empowering change.
“I was really thrilled to have us come back and talk about the calls for justice, and calls for justice specific to policing, and to be able to talk about where we’re achieving Let’s take a really deep dive about where we are, but also where we need to grow,” Bergen said.
He said that this commission brings the perspective of women in an area where they lag behind the national average.
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Bergen noted that about 17 percent of PAPS’ workforce are women, compared to the national average of about 20 percent.
Vedres said, “It was encouraging to see that some of our figures are leading the country in some things, and in other places we know we have work to do and that’s why we are here.”
She said that the Women’s Commission is not afraid to press for change.
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