The Prince Albert Grand Council, along with the federal and provincial governments, signed the letter-of-intent at a public ceremony on Monday afternoon.

The partnership will create a Indigenous-led plan to improve public safety and policing on the P.A. Grand Council’s twelve First Nations and 28 communities.

“We know the challenges that we have with the RCMP within our communities,” said Vice-Chief Joe Tsannie. “We don’t want to be underfunded and struggling just to get by. We want to make sure if we develop a model that it is top-notch. (One) that our people deserve and take our rightful place and make our communities safe.”

Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino signed the agreement on behalf of the federal government, just hours after meeting with residents of the James Smith Cree First Nation—the site of a massing stabbing incident on the Sunday, September 4.

“It is not just about law enforcement. Healing has to be done through prevention, which means we have to look at those root causes that you know well. The challenges with substance, violence and organized crime.  We look to you for leadership on how we can reduce those challenges,” he said.

Mendicino says there must be enough housing, health care and education for young people to they can make the right choices.

The Prince Albert Grand Council Public Safety Implementation Team will start speaking to residents early this winter to develop plans tailored to meet the needs of each community.