June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day for people across Canada to celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.
Since 2006, the Delta Police Department (DPD) has provided public safety services to the Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN).
In 2018, in response to the TFN’s growth and the community’s needs, the DPD further partnered with the TFN and created the Tsawwassen First Nation Service Team (TFNST). The TFNST is a team of police officers dedicated to public safety on TFN Lands, responsible for responding to calls for service, proactive service, and conducting outreach in the community in a culturally safe way.
Since 2018, the DPD and the TFN have been collaborating to build this unique public safety model. The DPD works closely with the TFN’s Health and Social Services Department, creating a relationship for the DPD to work towards amending the Indigenous community’s trust in the police.
The DPD and the TFN also participate in a Community Justice Team, consisting of officers, a dedicated Probation Officer, a dedicated Crown Counsel and a TFN Outreach Worker, to blend the traditional justice methods of Indigenous communities and Western justice methods. This model encourages reconnection and healing and has been effective at reducing recidivism through restorative justice.
The TFN has welcomed our team and made us a part of the TFN community.
When our officers aren’t responding to calls, they can be found at the Youth Centre engaging with youth, at the Elders’ Centre sharing a meal and learning from the Elders, visiting members in their homes, or at one of the many community and cultural events.
On June 21, the DPD will be celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day, and in particular, the people of Tsawwassen First Nation.
We wish the TFN community an exceptional National Indigenous Peoples Day and are excited to be able to share the day alongside them.
