Indigenous Policing 2026

June 3 & 4, 2026 at 9:00AM MDT

Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, Calgary, Alberta

Indigenous Policing 2026

June 3 & 4, 2026

Overview

Indigenous communities face racism, higher crime and incarceration rates than the rest of Canada.

There are significantly higher police incidents involving Indigenous people.

We know these facts. What can we do and how can we fix it?

What has worked? What can we change?

It is crucial for all those involved with the system to explore and identify key elements in developing and implementing quality policing strategies and harm reduction measures for Indigenous communities.

There are new approaches to enforcing by-laws in Indigenous communities and recent successful court decisions.

Police departments across Canada have increased public scrutiny and calls for greater accountability.

In the middle of great conflict, there are enormous opportunities for growth and progress.

Join us as we bring together leading experts with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Attend this two-day program to hear critical insights and updates that are affecting Indigenous police services, and police serving Indigenous communities.

This is essential learning for anyone interested in reconciliation and creating a better and safer future.

Key Areas Addressed:

  • Community driven goal of public safety

  • Indigenous policing – what to fix and how to fix it

  • Governance and Indigenous policing – the over-policing and under-policing dichotomy

  • Diversity in policing

  • Enforcing band by-laws under the Indian Act

  • Update on Indigenous communities enforcing band by-laws

  • The Tsuut’ina experience – legislation, enforcement, adjudication and community involvement

  • Innovative approaches to Indigenous and community policing

  • A fresh and different approach to community trust – Marshal services on Indigenous lands

  • Time to shed the colonial model? Recruiting and retention in Indigenous communities

  • What are the policing standards that communities need for tomorrow?

Who Should Attend:

  • Indigenous leaders, council members, elders, and members of Indigenous community organizations

  • Indigenous police officers and Indigenous police boards members

  • Members of municipal, provincial, and federal police services that serve and protect Indigenous communities

  • Federal, provincial, territorial and municipal government officials

  • Lawyers practising in the area of Indigenous justice, and members of the judiciary making decisions impacting Indigenous peoples and communities

  • Parole and corrections officers, social workers, mental health workers, criminologists, court workers and others involved with the justice system

Agenda

Day One - June 3, 2026

9:00 - Welcome by PBLI

9:05 - Welcome to Tsuut’ina Territory – Land Acknowledgement and Prayer

9:20 - Chair’s Welcome and Introduction – Community Driven Goal of Public Safety

Rob Davis
Chief of Police, Moose Jaw Police Service, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (Former Chief of Police of Brantford Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service and Dryden Police Service; plus 17 years of Self-Administered Indigenous Policing)

9:30 - Keynote Address – Innovative Approaches to Indigenous and Community Policing

Dale McFee
Deputy Minister of Executive Council and Head of the Alberta Public Service, Former Chief of Police, Edmonton, Alberta

  • Update on Alberta Bill 49

  • Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act – Inclusion of Indigenous voices

  • Law enforcement

  • Use of technology in public safety

  • Addressing homelessness

  • Crisis management

10:15 - Questions and Discussion

10:30 - Refreshment Adjournment

10:45 - Governance and Indigenous Policing – The Over-Policing and Under-Policing Dichotomy

Professor Kent Roach
University of Toronto, Faculty of Law

  • The role of Governance

  • The role of Police Boards

  • What to do when there is political interference

  • Indigenous representation on police boards and why it matters

  • The FNPP and stalled Indigenous policing legislation

11:45 - Questions and Discussion

12:00 - Networking Lunch

1:00 - Enforcing Band By-Laws Under the Indian Act

Kyle Friesen
General Counsel, Legal Services, Surrey Police Service, BC and Former Legal Advisor to the RCMP Deputy Commissioner

  • The duty of police of respond and enforce laws (Federal, Provincial and First Nation) on reserve

  • Removal of persons from residences: Evictions and community safety

  • Public safety and protests: the right of everyone to peaceful, lawful and safe protests, blockades

  • Privacy legislation of First Nations

1:45 - Questions and Discussion

1:55 - Update on Indigenous Communities Enforcing Band By-Laws

Jason Herbert
Falls Law

  • First Nation law-making authority

  • Enforceable First Nation laws and by-laws

  • When to use BCRs

  • The role of police in the enforcement of First Nation laws and BCRs

  • Update on successful prosecutions

2:40 - Questions and Discussion

2:50 - Refreshment Adjournment

3:05 - The Tsuut’ina Experience – Legislation, Enforcement, Adjudication and Community Involvement

Chief Keith Blake
Chief of Police, Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service

Teddy Manywounds
G4 Justice Director, Tsuut’ina Nation

  • Collaboration and providing what the community wants

  • Continuing work in the community

  • Agreement with provincial prosecutors to enforce Indigenous nations’ legislation in provincial courts

  • Keeping the public safe - systems in alignment

3:55 - Questions and Discussion

4:05 - Faculty Roundtable and Open Discussion - Learnings and Best Practices on the Trail to Setting Up an Independent Indigenous Police Service

Rob Davis
Chief of Police, Moose Jaw Police Service, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (Former Chief of Police of Brantford Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service and Dryden Police Service; plus 17 years of Self-Administered Indigenous Policing)

Kyle Friesen
General Counsel, Legal Services, Surrey Police Service, BC and Former Legal Advisor to the RCMP Deputy Commissioner

4:55 - Chair’s Closing Remarks for Day One

5:00 - Forum Concludes for Day One

Day Two - June 4, 2026

9:00 - Chair’s Welcome to Day Two

Rob Davis
Chief of Police, Moose Jaw Police Service, Saskatchewan (Former Chief of Police of Brantford Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service and Dryden Police Service; plus 17 years of Self-Administered Indigenous Policing)

9:10 - Indigenous Policing – What to Fix and How to Fix It

Rob Davis
Chief of Police, Moose Jaw Police Service, Saskatchewan (Former Chief of Police of Brantford Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service and Dryden Police Service; plus 17 years of Self-Administered Indigenous Policing)

9:50 - Questions and Discussion

10:00 - A Fresh and Different Approach to Community Trust – Marshal Services on Indigenous Lands

Thomas Sierzycki, B.Ed, MNGD, MPA
Executive Director – Civilian Deputy Chief, Operational Support Services, Saskatchewan Marshals Service

Teddy Munro
Superintendent, Saskatchewan Marshals Service

  • The need for law enforcement to be invited onto First Nation lands

  • The necessity of Indigenous voices

10:40 - Questions and Discussion

10:50 - Refreshment Adjournment

11:05 - Time to Shed the Colonial Model? Recruiting and Retention in Indigenous Communities

Jason Colon
Chief of Police, Manitoba First Nations Police Service

  • Are standards and tests outdated and not meeting current needs?

  • Allowing flexibility

  • What kind of people do we want to attract to policing? What are the goals?

  • Indigenous people policing Indigenous people - On reserve, rural and urban situations

  • Public safety versus law enforcement

  • The challenges unique to Indigenous communities

  • Manitoba First Nations Police Service Recruit Training - A unique cultural approach

11:50 - Questions and Discussion

12:00 - Faculty Roundtable – What are the Policing Standards That Communities Need for Tomorrow?

  • Are we stuck in the Colonial Model?

  • Do we need to shift the police culture?

  • What is working?

  • What needs to change?

  • Are we stuck with historical requirements? Vision, physical etc.

  • The need for experts in cyber-crime

12:40 - Questions and Discussion

12:50 - Chair’s Closing Remarks

1:00 - Forum Concludes



Meet the Chair

Keynote Speaker

Meet the Faculty


Registration Form

Program:

Indigenous Policing 2026

Date:

June 3 & 4, 2026

Location:

Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, 3779 Grey Eagle Drive, Calgary, Alberta

Registration:

The registration fee is $1,600.00 plus GST of $80.00 totalling $1,680.00for in-person attendance. Registration fee covers your attendance at the program and electronic materials. In-person attendance includes a catered lunch and refreshments throughout the days.

Early Bird Discount:

Register by May 4, 2026 and receive a $150 discount on the registration fee ($1,450.00 plus GST). Discounts cannot be combined.

Group Discount:

Register four persons from the same organization at the same time and you are entitled to a complimentary fifth registration. Discounts cannot be combined.

If you would like to register a group, please fill out this form and email it to registrations@pbli.com:

DOWNLOAD FORM

Payment:

You may pay by VISA, Mastercard or cheque. Cheques should be made payable to the Pacific Business & Law Institute and mailed to Unit 2-2246 Spruce Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 2P3. Please do not send cheques via courier with signature required.

When and Where:

Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. The program starts at 9:00 a.m. (MDT). The Grey Eagle Resort and Casino is located at 3779 Grey Eagle Drive, Calgary, Alberta. If you need to book a room, please contact the Reservation Department directly at 1-844-719-8777 or 403-719-8777 and provide the group name: Indigenous Policing Conference – Block ID: 413320 and dates of stay for a group rate.

Materials:

We will distribute papers and/or other materials provided by the faculty explaining many of the points raised during this program. Materials will be distributed electronically.

Cancellations/Transfers:

Refunds will be given for cancellations (less a $60.00 administration fee) if notice is received in writing five full business days prior to the program (May 27, 2026). After that time we are unable to refund registration fees. Substitutions will be permitted. We reserve the right to cancel, change or revise the date, faculty, content, availability of webinar or venue and transfer in-person registration to webinar registration for this event.

To register by phone:

Telephone us: 604-730-2500

Your Privacy:

We will keep all information that you provide to us in strict confidence, other than to prepare a delegate list containing your name, title, firm and city for our faculty and the program delegates. We do not share our mailing lists with any non-affiliated organization.

Course Accreditation:

Attendance at this course can be listed for up to 10.3 hours of continuing professional development credits with the Law Society of BC. For practitioners in other jurisdictions, please check your governing body’s CPD requirements.


If you would like to register a group, please fill out this form (DOWNLOAD FORM) and email it to registrations@pbli.com; for individual registration, please continue with form below.