Saskatoon's Indigenous Support Team is set to provide a distinctive approach to the city's community safety plan while remaining integrated within a broader, tiered response system. The new city-run initiative, which commenced operations early last week and began full shifts by the end of the week, was developed as an interim solution following delays that prevented the Indigenous Peacekeeper program—managed by the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC)—from launching on schedule.
Community Connection at the Core
Pamela Goulden-McLeod, the city's director of emergency management, expressed optimism about the team's potential. She emphasized that the primary role of the support team is support, engagement, and connection. What distinguishes this team within the larger community safety framework is its deep-rooted connection to the Indigenous community. Despite the unexpected shift in direction, Goulden-McLeod believes the outcome is ultimately positive.
Program Structure and Training
The interim pilot program comprises two teams, each with two Indigenous support staff, operating in the Downtown and Riversdale Business Improvement Districts, as well as in neighborhoods like Pleasant Hill. Support workers undergo training provided by the Commissionaires, which includes First Aid, Naloxone administration, trauma-informed response techniques, and protocols for safely transporting vulnerable individuals. One of the support workers is also a pipe carrier—a respected figure in the Indigenous community who can conduct pipe ceremonies, often held before important negotiations. Goulden-McLeod stressed that having individuals with cultural and community connections is vital for the program's success.
Distinct from Indigenous Peacekeepers
Goulden-McLeod was cautious not to claim that this initiative replaces the work intended for the Indigenous Peacekeepers. She noted that the city is focusing on what it can accomplish with available resources. There remains no confirmed timeline for when the STC Indigenous Peacekeepers program will be operational, and it is unclear what will happen to the support team once the peacekeepers are deployed.
The concept for the Indigenous Peacekeepers program originated from Mayor Cynthia Block's observations of the STC's Sawēyihtotān program—an Indigenous-led support worker team that provides homelessness assistance. Data from Saskatoon Fire and police will be used to identify city "hot spots" where these organizations receive the most calls, and the support team will be dispatched to assist individuals in those areas.
Emphasis on Support Over Enforcement
Goulden-McLeod explained that unless there is an immediate criminal or safety risk, the team aims to avoid immediate enforcement actions. Workers do not wear a uniform beyond a safety vest and lanyard, and each team uses an unmarked vehicle to transport unhoused individuals to various services across the city.
