What does it mean to police a community as diverse as Squamish? How can law enforcement better connect with Indigenous communities to build trust and respect?
For Const. Kelly Dean of the Integrated First Nations Policing Unit (IFNU), these questions aren鈥檛 just theoretical鈥攖hey鈥檙e at the heart of his everyday work.
鈥淚n my role, it鈥檚 different,鈥� Dean shared during an interview with The 小蓝视频.
鈥淚 have a heart connection with the community. When something happens, it鈥檚 not just a call鈥擨 see how it impacts families. The community feels like my extended family.鈥�
鈥楾hese choices are intentional鈥�
Established in 2008, the Integrated First Nations Policing Unit (IFNU) serves the S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh 脷xwumixw (Squamish Nation) and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, covering Squamish, North Vancouver, and West Vancouver.
Based on the North Shore, IFNU is 鈥渇ocused on providing enhanced policing services that are culturally sensitive and responsive to the First Nations,鈥� reads the .
IFNU collaborates with First Nations leadership and departments to address community concerns, provide investigative support, and ensure emergency responses align with the priorities outlined in the
鈥淲e鈥檙e not frontline officers responding to every 911 call,鈥� Dean said. 鈥淥ur job is to connect general duty officers with the community in culturally appropriate ways.鈥�
According to a , one in five Indigenous individuals expressed a lack of confidence in the police, a much higher proportion than non-Indigenous populations. Another also revealed that Indigenous people are incarcerated at a rate 8.4 times higher than non-Indigenous individuals.
According to Dean, one way the IFNU fosters trust is through intentional, trauma-aware practices.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 wear the RCMP鈥檚 yellow-striped pants or grey shirts,鈥� Dean said.
鈥淥ur vehicles don鈥檛 display the standard buffalo logo, which can be a trauma trigger. Instead, we use artwork by Squamish artist Rick Harry. These choices are intentional鈥攖o reduce trauma and build trust.鈥�
Dean鈥檚 traditional name, s7铆l虛chi (pronounced eeth-chay), given to him in a ceremony in 2021, reflects this responsibility. Meaning 鈥淭he Bowman,鈥� it symbolizes a protector in the canoe.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of responsibility,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 take for granted the amount of trust the community places in me, and I reciprocate that trust.鈥�
Addressing challenges
Dean鈥檚 role extends across almost 6,700 square kilometres, including reserve lands and unoccupied areas like fee-simple properties being returned to the S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh 脷xwumixw (Squamish Nation).
A 鈥榝ee simple property鈥� is a real estate property that is owned outright, without limitations, and with the highest form of ownership.
The growing popularity of the Squamish Valley for recreation has added new complexities to his work.
鈥淒uring COVID, there was a massive influx of people coming to the valley,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had to enforce Section 58 closures to prevent people from driving or camping in sensitive areas like riverbeds. These measures aim to protect salmon habitats and address declining fish stocks鈥攊ssues that are deeply important to the S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh Nation.鈥�
Increased recreation has also brought safety risks.
鈥淎 few years ago, a wildfire started because someone was target shooting on Crown land,鈥� Dean said. 鈥淪parks from their rounds ignited a fire. Now, certain areas have signs prohibiting target shooting, though hunting is still permitted.鈥�
Dean acknowledged the challenges of managing such a vast territory alone. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot for one person, and adding another officer to support the community would make a significant difference,鈥� he said.
鈥楽tatus is 100% a colonial construct鈥�
For Dean, policing is about more than enforcement鈥攊t鈥檚 about connection.
鈥淚 spend time with Elders, drum and sing, and even learn the language,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a self-taught language learner, with guidance from mentors. It鈥檚 a challenge, but it鈥檚 so rewarding.鈥�
Dean also participates in community initiatives like youth camps and canoe journeys. He鈥檚 part of the Sema7maka canoe family and supports Tribal Journeys by ensuring safety on the water.
鈥淥ne of the best things I can do is support culture and language,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fulfilling for me and helps grow understanding within the broader community.鈥�
Dean鈥檚 mixed ancestry鈥擠anish, Scottish, and Blackfoot鈥攇ives him a personal perspective on Indigenous identity.
鈥淢y grandmother married a non-Nation person, and her Indian status was revoked,鈥� he said.
鈥淪tatus is 100% a colonial construct. Indigenous identity is about much more than a government-issued number.鈥�
Dean highlighted the complexities of the , which can impact community members鈥� rights to hunting, fishing, and other cultural practices.
鈥淐onservation officers might determine someone鈥檚 rights based on their status number,鈥� he said.
鈥淏ut you can have direct S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh lineage and still not meet the government鈥檚 criteria for status. It鈥檚 a complicated and often unfair system.鈥�
Challenging misconceptions about policing
Dean also works to address misconceptions about law enforcement, particularly those influenced by United States media.
鈥淚n the U.S., every police show seems to involve a shootout,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 just not reflective of the Canadian perspective. Most officers I鈥檝e worked with are compassionate people who genuinely want to help.鈥�
Dean emphasized the importance of highlighting the positive work being done by Indigenous officers across 小蓝视频
鈥淓very year, I meet with around 160 Indigenous police officers to discuss these issues,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to share what鈥檚 working and support one another.鈥�
鈥楤eing a police officer doesn鈥檛 have to be authoritarian鈥�
While the IFNU has made strides in fostering trust and cultural understanding, Dean sees room for growth.
鈥淲e鈥檙e involved in initiatives that go beyond traditional policing to benefit the community,鈥� he said.
鈥淏ut with the size of our territory and the volume of calls we handle, adding another officer would make a significant difference, especially for recreation-related issues.鈥�
鈥淚 don鈥檛 do anything performatively鈥攊t鈥檚 the opposite,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 passionate about showing that being a police officer doesn鈥檛 have to be authoritarian.鈥�
Bhagyashree Chatterjee is The 小蓝视频鈥檚 Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the .
