AN HISTORIC AGREEMENT: NISHNAWBE ASKI POLICE SERVICE BECOMES ONTARIO’S FIRST LEGISLATED INDIGENOUS POLICE SERVICE
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Posted by Shelby Percival
- Posted in BlogsNews
Yesterday, First Nation community leaders, police service leaders, and Ontario Ministers joined together at Queen’s Park for the official launch of a new era for Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (“NAPS”).
Founded in 1994, NAPS is the largest self-administered First Nations police service in Canada and has long been at the leading edge of First Nations community safety. After suffering for too long from a lack of legislated backing for the police service, NAPS and Nishnawbe Aski Nation (“NAN”) took a stand more than a decade ago, demanding a new approach.
As a result of that hard-fought advocacy, the Ontario government agreed to sit down to begin work on a new legislative framework for Indigenous safety backed by the rule of law. Falconers LLP has been honoured to support that process, participating in negotiations with Ontario over many years, and assisting NAPS and NAN in preparing for this historic day.
For more on the momentous occasion, click here for a news release from the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.
Media Coverage:
- Alan S. Hale, SooToday.Com (Dec. 11, 2024) – “Nishnawbe Aski Police Service becomes the equal of non-Indigenous police forces”
- Sarah Law, CBC News (Dec 10, 2024) – “Nishnawbe Aski Police Service signs agreement with Ontario to become an essential service”
- CBC News (Dec 10, 2024) – “VIDEO: Nishnawbe Aski Police Service signs agreement with Ontario”
- Isaac Callan, Global News (Dec 10, 2024) – “First Nation police service opts into Ontario framework in ‘historic’ agreement”
- Canadian Press, Burnaby Now (Dec 10, 2024) – “Ontario First Nation police force to become essential service and double in size”
- Mike Stimpson, NWOnewswatch.com (Dec 10, 2024) – “NAPS and province announce historic agreement”
- James Murray, NetNewsLedger (Dec 10, 2024) – “Nishnawbe Aski Police Service Becomes Ontario’s First Legislated Indigenous Police Force”
