THUNDER BAY — The Community Inclusion Team of the Thunder Bay Police Service – formerly the Aboriginal Liaison Unit – is tasked with helping police repair their relationships with Indigenous and other underrepresented communities.
Insp. Derek West introduced the team's five members to the Thunder Bay Police Services Board for the first time on Tuesday, in conjunction with the presentation of its strategic plan.
Previously the responsibility of the Aboriginal Liaison Unit fell upon two officers, the newly formed Community Inclusion Team includes four officers and a civilian coordinator.
Board chair Kirsten Oliver noted that this is a significant investment by the TBPS in community engagement, and that it's aligned with recommendations from the Office of the Independent Police Review Director and the Sinclair Report to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.
West said one of the team's most important tasks is to assist with recruitment to ensure the police service represents the community.
It will coordinate cultural competency training for all police officers throughout their careers, and develop partnerships with the Anishinabek Police and Nishnawbe- Aski Police services for a work exchange program.
"Our commitment is to rewriting relationships with Indigenous people," West told the board. "Our vision and mission is building trust and providing a path forward."
The team's Ojibwe name is Gawendum Gaakina Awaya, which means "protect everyone/everything."
The board heard that it's guided by the Seven Grandfather Teachings of love, truth, humility, honesty, respect, bravery and wisdom.
West said "We really want to focus on youth, through different avenues such as Indigenous schools and sponsoring welcome feasts" as well as other programs.
The team will also work with community partners including a Thunder Bay Police Elders and Knowledge-keepers committee which is in the process of being established.
"We want to provide education on hate crime, gang recruitment, and police interactions specific to street checks and understanding rights, and how we should expect to be treated by the police," West said.
To make the police headquarters building itself more inclusive, "we're changing what we look like," he added.
Plans include installing multilingual welcome signs in the lobby – using Indigenous syllabics – and gender-neutral washrooms in public areas.
Police Chief Sylvie Hauth reminded the board that the TBPS website https://www.thunderbaypolice.ca/organizational-change-initiative includes information about the service's Organizational Change Initiative, and will be updated as new developments occur.
