The Office of the Treaty Commissioner’s reconciliation team and facilitators were pleased to support the Saskatoon Police Service through the creation of a Truth and Reconciliation through Treaty Implementation Action Plan designed to guide and measure work in reconciliation in the years ahead.

OTC facilitators met with a team from SPS 12 times over the course of the year, including trainings on Treaty, mapping out where the SPS is on their truth and reconciliation journey, and sessions on where they want to grow.

This report was presented to the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners at a meeting in December.

“The feedback to the report was incredibly positive,” said Rhett Sangster, OTC director reconciliation and community partnerships.

Comments included that the report was “refreshingly practical” and an “inspiring document.”

The process allowed SPS to identify recommendations on moving truth and reconciliation forward. The report reflects SPS’s desire to measure the impacts of their efforts, make a long-term commitment to Truth and Reconciliation through Treaty Implementation, have a deeper understanding of past wrong-doings, to publicly acknowledge past harms against Indigenous Peoples, and clearly communicate the work being done to address these issues in a meaningful way – as a way to rebuild trust and seek truth and reconciliation.

The action plan is a road map to a better police force in Saskatoon, one which contributes to a positive long-term impact for Indigenous people living in that city. This report outlines a plan to put the recommendations in place including timelines, leads, and indicators to measure progress.

The OTC knows this work is difficult and implantation is not easy, but that it is really important. It will require sustained action and resources to have real impact. Strong partnerships, particularly with Indigenous communities and organizations, are needed to be successful.

Read more about the SPS Plan here: Saskatoon police lay out plan to move forward on reconciliation — with accountability to stay on track

Learn more about the Truth and Reconciliation Through Treaty Implementation program

Watch the presentation to the Board of Police Commissioners