‘It’s like the Wild West’: Tribal council says policing in northern Sask. is broken

WATCH: The Meadow Lake Tribal Council is issuing an urgent plea to both the provincial and federal governments saying policing in northern Saskatchewan is broke

The Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) is issuing an urgent plea to both the provincial and federal governments, saying policing in northern Saskatchewan is broken and putting lives at risk.

Leaders say long RCMP response times and increasing gang activity have created what they call “chaotic” conditions.

“The drug epidemic is unprecedented. Everything is uncontrolled. It’s like the Wild West,” said Roy Cheecham, a tribal councillor with the Clearwater River Dene First Nation, describing the current state of affairs where he lives.

He says the situation is critical, with safety in question.

“When you call for police assistance, they’re understaffed. They don’t have time,” he told CTV News.

Leaders with the Meadow Lake Tribal Council explained the situation their communities are facing at a news conference Wednesday. There are nine First Nations in the MLTC, with speakers taking the mic to describe the crisis facing their communities due to a lack of law enforcement.

“Why is it in northern Saskatchewan and First Nations people? We have 2,000 people and there’s not a police force there,” Vice Chief Richard Derocher said.

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The communities pay for their own security to try to keep their people safe, some of the speakers said — over a million dollars a year, in some cases. RCMP detachments are not close by, but in neighbouring areas like the town of Meadow Lake.

“That would not happen in any community except in northern communities in Canada,” Derocher said.

Response time for RCMP to get to some of the more remote areas is over an hour, according to Tribal Chief Jeremy Norman.

“Best-case scenario, you’re getting robbed. You’re going to be waiting an hour and 15 minutes. That’s if the call was answered and they jump in the vehicle right now and hope the roads are good,” Norman said.

Saskatchewan RCMP said response times vary widely depending on geography, road conditions, call severity and other factors.

Some on the panel explained that unlawful residents are often evicted from the First Nation, but that doesn’t fix the situation.

“It’s not one issue. It’s not. It’s a combination of issues, but today we’re here for safety,” Derocher said.

The Saskatchewan Marshal Service is one of the resources this group would like to see used more in their communities. That service is run by the province.

The province said it recognizes MLTC’s concerns and is working with Ottawa on a $3 million pilot project adding community safety officers to 10 First Nations, including three MLTC members.

“Additionally, the government is investing in the Saskatchewan Marshals Service to, in part, support the RCMP, municipal and First Nations police services to strengthen community safety,” the province said in a statement.

Chief Francis Iron called on governments to “step up,” saying communities need help.

Leaders are asking for in-person meetings to find solutions.