Policing, ‘top offenders list’ take centre stage at Dene Nation forum

NWT RCMP say they are working to develop a top offenders list among efforts to address crime in the territory.

RCMP Supt Chris Romanchych said that list will include “a harm score” to help officers determine where they should focus efforts for the greatest public benefit.

Romanchych discussed the initiative at the Dene Nation’s public safety forum in Yellowknife on Wednesday.

He and Sgt Marshall McPhail, who works with the territorial crime reduction unit, gave a presentation outlining how NWT RCMP are working to tackle drug-related crimes in communities and some of the challenges they are facing.

“We want to work with the communities and not against them,” Romanchych said.

Other efforts he highlighted included an Indigenous advisory committee and enhancements to NWT RCMP’s emergency response team.

Romanchych added police are collaborating with Housing NWT to share information about drug trafficking in public housing units, working with public health to alert residents about the presence of toxic drugs in the territory, and have had an initial discussion with the airport authority about security challenges at small airports.

RCMP are also working with the territorial government to develop a combined health and police response, he said, where a mental health nurse would attend some calls alongside a police officer.

‘Strength in numbers’

Romanchych said RCMP could benefit from greater support from NWT communities.

“Drug dealers, as we know, have been operating for decades. This is not something that’s new to the world, it’s not something that’s going to go away any time soon,” he said.

“It is not something that I believe we will be able to police our way out of. It needs to be a unified, collaborative approach. There’s strength in numbers.”

He also cautioned against vigilante justice.

“I don’t want anybody to get hurt standing up for your community and I don’t want anybody to cross the line to where they’ve done something that does break a law when they’re trying to help their community,” he said.

Tate Juniper, one of the delegates at the forum representing the Sahtu region, spoke about the importance of addressing not only the supply of illicit drugs in the NWT but also the demand for them.

He suggested a community prosecution model where RCMP would immediately deal with outsiders selling drugs in the territory, while community members caught up in the drug trade would be given steps to take before facing potential jail time.

“This could allow our leaders and our people to feel more empowered to turn their friends and family in alongside the dealers, knowing that those people have a chance to turn around in our communities through our own methods of rehabilitation before they’re eventually put into the system and taken away,” he said.

“I think the fear truly is that if we continue to send our people away when they get involved in these things, our communities will be empty and our people will suffer.”

RCMP have said that, in some cases, drug dealers are taking advantage of vulnerable people in order to traffic drugs in NWT communities.

Romanchych pointed to wellness court as one option in the NWT that offers residents diversion from jail.

The alternative court process aims to help people struggling with addictions, mental health or cognitive challenges to address conditions that may lead to re-offending. It can include things like addictions treatment.

Delegates unanimously support task force

Dene leaders, Elders and community members are gathered in Yellowknife for the three-day forum to talk about solutions to address drugs, crime and violence in NWT communities.

During the first day of the forum, delegates heard about some of the requirements for establishing a self-administered First Nation police service.

They also discussed creating a Dene-led task force to tackle issues related to drugs and alcohol as well as crime prevention in NWT communities.

Delegates unanimously passed a resolution in support of forming that task force on Wednesday morning.

The task force will be made up of regional Dene representatives from across the NWT. Once selected, members of the task force will develop terms of reference and then report findings and recommendations to Dene leadership for action.

Phil Moon Son, chief executive officer of the Dene Nation, said the organization has been looking for federal funding to support the initiative.

Depending on how quickly the Dene Nation is able to secure funding, he said, ideas presented by the task force could be implemented as soon as the Dene National Assembly, which is set to take place in Fort Good Hope this summer.

Juniper said he has already been nominated as the Sahtu representative on the task force. He said while funding may be a challenge, it’s important to take action as soon as possible.

“I’m willing to do this for free until funding comes in,” he said.

“I would expect our chiefs and councils to also see the need, the priority and the necessity of sacrifice that might come with doing this work soon, and how important it is.”

On Wednesday, delegates also listened to presentations about Tribal Protection Community Services – a company that provides community support services to some First Nations communities in Manitoba – and possible legal responses to public health and safety issues on First Nation lands.

The forum is set to conclude on Thursday.