T3PSB Statement RE Wabaseemoong and 100 Day Notice

November 7, 2024

KENORA, ONTARIO: The Board of Directors of the Treaty Three Police Service (“T3PS”) has issued the following statement:

On July 29, 2024, Wabaseemoong Independent Nations (“Wabaseemoong”) and Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (“Grassy Narrows”) signed a Declaration providing 100 days’ notice to T3PS of its intention to end policing services. Regrettably, on October 25, 2024, Wabaseemoong passed a Band Council Resolution giving effect to this Declaration and confirming Wabaseemoong’s departure from T3PS.

The T3PS Board of Directors was hopeful that it could work with community leadership from Wabaseemoong to discuss a path forward for meeting the policing needs of the community while dealing with the reality of T3PS’ chronic underfunding by Canada, pursuant to the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program. While this goal did not come to fruition, the T3PS Board of Directors respects Wabaseemoong’s exercise of its inherent right of self-determination, including the inherent right to make choices regarding the policing and safety of its community members.

Although Grassy Narrows previously provided its intention to depart from T3PS, community leadership from Grassy Narrows has agreed to continue to work with T3PS to address the policing needs of its community and provide adequate and effective policing which ensures the public safety of its members.

The T3PS Board understands the underlying concerns expressed by Wabaseemoong and Grassy Narrows, which led to the July 29th Declaration and is actively working to address these serious issues. The priority of the T3PS Board is to ensure that T3PS has the resources and support it needs to effectively serve and protect the communities we serve. Despite these challenges, we remain dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of service for our communities and collaborating with our community partners as we work through these challenges together.

At the same time, it must be mentioned that today’s news highlights the stressors placed on First Nations communities as a result of Canada’s discriminatory underfunding of the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program, which is currently the subject of a human rights complaint before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. First Nations should never be put in a situation where the safety of community members is compromised due to the greed of colonial institutions. Immediate attention and action are required by Canada to remedy these systemic issues.

We understand that this is a challenging time, but it is also an opportunity to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to our communities and to improve our services. We appreciate the continued dedication and hard work of our officers and staff.

-30-

NT5