RNC, First Voice form Indigenous advisory committee

The RNC and St. John’s-based urban Indigenous coalition First Voice announced Tuesday, June 6, they have reached an agreement to form an Indigenous advisory committee.

The RNC Indigenous Advisory Committee (RNCIAC) will include representation from the RNC, First Voice and other Indigenous governments and organizations from across the province.

A news release notes the committee will seek to address historical and current harms through an open and honest approach guided by respect and understanding.

“We are happy with the announcement here today,” First Voice program director Justin Campbell told Saltwire. “We had very productive conversations, sometimes difficult conversations, with the RNC, including with RNC Police Chief Patrick Roche.

“The formation of this Indigenous advisory committee is only one step along the way in improving policing. Transformational legislative changes are required and that can only come from the province, and specifically Justice and Public Safety Minister John Hogan.”

The release notes the committee will recommend ways and means of improving the relationship between the RNC and Indigenous communities by providing guidance to the police service on how to best advance truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in a way that is consistent with the calls for justice of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Some of the objectives placed at the forefront of this initiative include: advancing the Section 9 calls for justice of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls; increasing cultural awareness and sensitivity of RNC officers respecting Indigenous communities; promoting the recruitment of members of Indigenous communities as RNC officers; and removing systemic barriers to the fair and equal treatment of members of Indigenous communities within police services stemming from the colonial history of Canada.

RNC media relations officer Const. James Cadigan said Tuesday’s announcement stems from work that began in October 2022 with the leadership of First Voice.

“The work has led to the formation of this Indigenous advisory committee which is set out to guide our police service in providing the highest standard of service across the province, and certainly an understanding and respect for Indigenous peoples within our province,” Cadigan said. “We’ve learned that the experience of one is not necessarily the experience of all. That is the importance of the representation of Indigenous governments and organizations from across the province.

“This is the beginning of the process for this particular committee and this transparent approach will provide information to our community to what progress and what discussions are being had. And it’s an open-door policy in that we welcome Indigenous people and Indigenous organizations to join the conversation and provide guidance and experience to this process.

“When you look at the terms we look to address, you look at advancing the Section 9 calls for justice. And then you move on to the cultural awareness and sensitivity of RNC officers respecting Indigenous communities, and that’s all about education, and providing that meaningful understanding of Indigenous people in our province.”

Last October the First Voice Working Group on Police Oversight released its report entitled “Building Trust, Restoring Confidence.”

“We came up with 26 comprehensive recommendations for systemic transformational change in policing,” Campbell said. “All were directed at the provincial government. It would be helpful to know where the Department of Justice stands on the 26 recommendations that we directed toward them in that final report. It’s been eight or nine months, and the last we heard from the department was that they are considering the recommendations.”