Equity and Cultural Engagement Unit

MISSION STATEMENT

“The Saskatoon Police Service’s Equity and Cultural Engagement Unit will strive to provide service based on our core values in building partnerships and understanding within our community. Building partnerships with First Nations, Metis, and other culturally diverse communities within Saskatoon will enhance awareness and communication between the Saskatoon Police Service and our community promoting acceptance and social cohesion.”

The Saskatoon Police Service Equity and Cultural Engagement Unit (ECEU) was created in 1994 as the need was seen to form a stronger relationship with the growing Indigenous population that was in the city. This was all put forth in a collaborative effort by the SPS, Saskatoon Tribal Council, First Nations elders and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations. This arose after the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People’s findings clearly defined the disconnect with the justice system and Indigenous people of Canada.

The ECEU’s original mandate was building trust between police and Indigenous communities and facilitating the groups to be able to sit down and work together in dealing with issues of crime from a restorative and proactive approach, as opposed to an outdated reactive way of policing.

Criminal activity was examined, and the issues of poverty, marginalization and racism began to surface as the underlying causes within the community all with connections back to Colonialism and the current trans-generational effects of the residential school legacy.

Today, the ECEU facilitates a number of programs and events including the Cadet Orientation Police Studies Program (C.O.P.S.), the Diversity Disco, Diversity Breakfast, and Saskatoon Police Advisory Committee On Diversity (SPACOD), as well as assisting with many other programs.

ECEU Contact: community.engagement@police.saskatoon.sk.ca