Downtown Saskatoon is getting Indigenous peacekeeper patrols

WATCH: Saskatoon's taking a new approach to social disorder in downtown Saskatoon — hiring Indigenous peacekeepers to patrol the streets to build relationships.

Saskatoon is taking a new approach to addressing homelessness and social disorder.

Next year, four Indigenous peacekeepers will begin patrolling downtown.

It’s part of a one-year, $300,000 pilot project unanimously approved during budget talks.

Each team of two will work 12-hour shifts, connecting people on the streets to social services.

• Get the latest news from Saskatoon, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

“We need a tool that’s based on relationship, that’s not based on enforcement,” said Pamela Goulden-MacLeod, the city’s director of emergency management, during budget deliberations.

The peacekeepers won’t wear uniforms, but will work closely with the Saskatoon Police Service and Saskatoon Fire Department.

Deputy Police Chief Darren Pringle said officers can train them in de-escalation and gang awareness.

“Gang symbols, hierarchy, behaviour, kinds of victimization,” Pringle explained.

Why a cultural response matters

Indigenous-led teams could “foster trust, build connections and improve engagement,” according to a city report, noting Indigenous people make up about 80 per cent of Saskatoon’s homeless population.

The city plans to contract the positions through the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC), which already uses peacekeepers at its Fairhaven shelter.

STC Chief Mark Arcand said cultural practices can quickly calm tense situations.

“One of our biggest successes — and people might think this is funny — but, we offer tobacco,” Arcand said.

“Tobacco to go have a smoke and just calm down the situation, de-escalate, gain some trust because a lot of Indigenous people don’t trust the system. It’s a reality.”

Ward 4 Coun. Troy Davies, a former paramedic, said he’s seen the positive impact of cultural connection.

“I can tell you, just having one sentence of just speaking Cree to somebody who was First Nations, de-escalated the situation,” Davies said.

Downtown BID supports the peacekeeper program

Shawna Nelson, executive director of the Downtown Business Improvement District, sent the city a letter of support.

“The level of disorder and safety concerns, particularly related to visible homelessness, drug use, and overdose incidents at business doorsteps continues to grow,” Nelson wrote.

“The need for a coordinated, culturally grounded, and community-based safety response has never been more critical.”

Funding for the pilot is coming from the city’s Reserve for Capital Expenditures.