First Nations Policing Program

The RCMP provides professional and dedicated service to First Nations and Inuit communities under the terms of the First Nations Policing Program. Established in 1991, the program, administered by Public Safety Canada, is cost-shared between the federal and provincial/territorial governments.

The First Nations Policing Program:

• enhances community policing services
• supports culturally responsive policing in First Nation and Inuit communities
• recognizes input from Indigenous communities of policing services received

Policing models in Indigenous communities

There are two main models of police service delivery:

• Self-administered agreements (used when a First Nation or Inuit community manages its own, unique police force under provincial regulations and legislation)
• Community Tripartite Agreements (used when standing services, like Ontario Provincial Police, Sûreté du Québec, RCMP, etc., are contracted to provide policing services to a First Nation or Inuit community)

Community Tripartite Agreements are negotiated by:

• The federal government (represented by Public Safety Canada)
• The province or territory in which the First Nations community is located (usually represented by the provincial or territorial Minister of Justice)
• The governing body of the First Nations community (represented by the Band Council)

For more information, please visit the Public Safety Canada website.