Developing Indigenous Cultural Safety Training for Municipal Police in British Columbia
Principal Investigator: Tim Came
Research Team: Jennifer Anaquod, Jason La Rochelle, Dawn Ursuliak
Project Dates: January 2022 – March 2025
Project Funding: $297,057
Project Summary:
The project Developing Indigenous Cultural Safety Training for Municipal Police in British Columbia aims to address the significant overrepresentation of Indigenous adults and youth in the criminal justice system, which has increased since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action. With Indigenous people comprising only 5 per cent of Canada's population but 32-33 per cent of the federal inmate population, systemic racism and the effects of colonization contribute to this disparity. The project seeks to promote cultural safety in policing by engaging with Indigenous Elders, other Knowledge Keepers, and community members to inform the design and development of training specifically for police recruits regarding the impacts of colonization and the unique challenges faced by Indigenous communities. Through this engagement, the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) Police Academy will develop a mandatory training course to foster respectful policing practices and culturally appropriate justice processes. Integrated into training for all municipal, transit and tribal police recruits in British Columbia, this course will help to equip them to engage effectively and respectfully with Indigenous Peoples.
Outcomes and Benefits:
The project will significantly enhance the understanding of systemic issues contributing to the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in the criminal justice system among police recruits. By educating them on the impacts of colonial history, the Gladue Principles, and the importance of cultural safety, the initiative aims to foster respectful policing practices. In the long term, this will lead to stronger relationships between police and Indigenous communities, increased referrals to Indigenous-led justice options, and ultimately a decrease in incarceration rates for Indigenous individuals in British Columbia.
Funding and Support: This project was funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Justice’s Indigenous Justice Program’s Systemic Change Informed by Gladue Principles to address the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in the criminal justice system.
Project Status: Active