The File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council (FHQTC) and the Regina Police Service (RPS) will sign the Cooperation and Community Safety Protocol that confirms years of working together to ensure the public safety of First Nations People in the Treaty Four area. The Protocol is intended to reflect the relationship between the FHQTC, its urban service delivery arm, the Regina Treaty Status Indian Services(RT/SIS) and the RPS as they work to assist all children, youth, men, women and Elders in having safe, secure and stable communities in which to thrive.
The Protocol will be signed by FHQTC Vice Chair Elaine Chicoose and Regina Police Chief Troy Hagen and it outlines the roles of both parties and several objectives including community safety and personal harm, intervention and management. Tribal Vice Chair Person Elaine Chicoose looks forward to the future relationship that is built from the protocol. “The wellbeing of our communities and membership is of utmost importance to FHQTC. We need to feel safe and recognize that the Police are working towards the same goal. This protocol ensures a reciprocal relationship between the FHQTC and the RPS. By signing this document, we are showing to First Nations people that accountability is important. We now have a Protocol that will help guide all of us to increase the response efforts of Police and ensure our communities are safer because of it.”
“This Protocol formalizes a valued partnership with the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council and emphasizes the critical importance of mutual respect and cooperation between full partners,” said Chief Troy Hagen of the Regina Police Service. “We are committed to working toward the goal of safety for all First Nations people in our community.”
The Protocol is a collaboration between the FHQTC, RT/SIS and the RPS and acknowledges that public safety must include First Nations People as true partners. Issues including greater communication, resolution of conflict situations, and identifying disputes at the earliest opportunity are addressed in the protocol. Goals, objectives and action will be implemented and followed in order for the protocol to be effective. The Protocol will be reviewed on an annual basis to determine its effectiveness and to identify opportunities for its improvement.
The membership of the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council are 11 First Nations within the Treaty 4 territory, and it is a strong, vibrant organization evolving to assist, enhance and promote First Nations entities and its people, based on the spirit and intent of our Treaties.
