Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) partnered with Public Safety Canada (PSC) to begin a Community Safety Planning process in early 2024, which involves the formation of a core group of community members representing each of the eight PBCN communities.
The process seeks to articulate the unique safety and wellness challenges facing our communities and work toward community-based solutions,” reads a PBCN news release dated Dec. 9.
The Core Group completed a Draft Safety Plan to present to the community and it includes the work the Group completed over the past year.
A Core Group of PBCN members from the various communities was formed in early 2024 to lead the initiative and it’s supported by a “PSC program officer and an independent Indigenous Facilitator,” to bring about the creation of a “unique PBCN Community Safety Plan (CPS),” according to the news release.
Since its inception, the group has conducted two two-day in-person meetings with a third meeting scheduled for February.
The group has taken a number of steps since its inception, such as: participating in explored community strengths, challenges and resources through environmental scanning activities; team building exercise to strengthen the relationships within the Core Group; discussed and prioritized the key safety issues impacting the First Nation; Engaged in a brainstorming process searching for a “community-driven” solutions to address the challenges; worked with the RCMP to “better understand gang-related safety issues and “begun identifying and building partnerships that will support our safety initiatives,” reads the news release.
The group has identified a number of areas pertinent to the Community Safety Plan and they include: to improve collaboration, communication and build safety capacity; enhance RCMP accountability; support, value and ensure staff safety; expand mental health supports; address community violence; leverage technology; empower youth and families; and invest in infrastructure.
“There will be an opportunity to include your voice and share your feedback on the draft community safety plan through a survey in the new year. Together, we can shape a safer, stronger future for everyone,” reads the news release.
The Safety Plan is being developed under the Aboriginal Community Safety Planning Initiative (ACSPI), a Public Safety Canada program, which is designed to “empower Indigenous communities to create tailored safety plans through a healing, community-driven process,” reads the news release.