Aboriginal Policing

First Nations Policing Program

Through the First Nations Policing Program (FNPP), Public Safety Canada provides contribution funding to support policing services that are professional, dedicated and responsive to the First Nation and Inuit communities they serve. The program is delivered through tripartite policing agreements among the federal government, provincial or territorial governments, and First Nation or Inuit communities. The federal and provincial/territorial governments provide parallel financial contributions for these agreements.

There are two main types of policing agreements under the FNPP:

• Self-administered Agreements, where a First Nation or Inuit community manages its own police service pursuant to provincial policing legislation and regulations; and
• Community Tripartite Agreements, where a dedicated contingent of officers from an existing police service, typically the RCMP, provides policing services to a First Nation or Inuit community.

The Aboriginal Policing Directorate, which administers the FNPP, also provides broad policy advice on Aboriginal public safety and justice issues and is the departmental lead on Aboriginal self-government as it pertains to the administration of justice.  The directorate also conducts relevant research and performance measurement to ensure that sound performance data is being collected to support effective program monitoring.

Program highlights in 2012-2013 included funding for:

• 163 policing service agreements;
• policing services to 396 First Nation and Inuit communities (total population 341,942); and
• 1261 police officers.

FNPP Footprint from 1996 to 2013

Image Description

Population from 1996 to 2013

Year	Population
1995	152,987
1996	177,162
1997	202,762
1998	211,398
1999	217,857
2000	222,546
2001	229,916
2002	224,421
2003	232,702
2004	233,789
2005	244,916
2006	279,198
2007	321,839
2008	323,815
2009	327,430
2010	330,922
2011	334,000
2012	339,989
2013	341,942

Footprint from 1996 to 2013

	Number of Agreements	Number of Communities	Negotiated Positions
Canada - 1996	81	244	716.6
Canada - 2012	163	396	1263.5
Atlantic - 1996	6	6	19
Atlantic - 2012	22	18	89
Québec - 1996	12	32	145
Québec - 2012	21	43	316
Ontario - 1996	8	87	346
Ontario - 2012	10	104	429
Praries - 1996	38	84	174.5
Praries - 2012	52	89	305
British Columbia and the North - 1996	17	35	32.1
British Columbia and the North - 2012	58	142	124.5

In March 2013, the federal government announced the five-year renewal of the FNPP.

Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions for Contribution Funding Under the First Nations Policing Program

History of the FNPP

A 1990 Task Force Report, the Indian Policing Policy Review, found that First Nations did not have access to the same police service models as did non-First Nations and that access to appropriate police services across bands was unequal. The FNPP was established in 1991 as a response to the Task Force Report, and to address pressing public safety issues in First Nation and Inuit communities.

Program Performance & Evaluation

In 2009-10, Public Safety Canada undertook an independent evaluation of the FNPP to examine the relevance and performance of the program. The evaluation concluded that the program was aligned to the Government of Canada's policy initiative of “Keeping Canadians Safe”, and the founding principles of the FNPP remain relevant today. First Nation and Inuit communities continue to have a need for police services that are professional, effective, culturally appropriate, and accountable to the communities they serve. For more information, please consult the 2009-10 Evaluation of the First Nations Policing Program (FNPP).

For further information about program performance, please consult the Public Safety Departmental Performance Report 2011-2012. 

Aboriginal Policing Publications

The Aboriginal Policing Directorate of Public Safety Canada undertakes various research and review assignments to observe progress, enhance information sharing and encourage open communication and discussion on matters related to public safety in First Nation and Inuit communities. We invite the public to learn about our latest research initiatives by reviewing the following reports:

First Nation and Inuit communities whose police services are provided through a Community Tripartite Agreement may establish a Community Consultative Group (CCG). A CCG is made up of members of the community, and its purpose is to identify and advocate for the community's policing priorities. Among other duties, it also promotes dialogue and good communication between the police service and members of the community. For more information, please see:

• Guidelines for a Community Consultative Group

Other publications available from the Aboriginal Policing Directorate:

• The Aboriginal Policing Update
• International Comparison of Indigenous Policing Models

Date modified:

2015-12-09