Although we could not gather in person this year or last year for the Community and Police Awards Gala, we would still like to formally recognize members of our Service and of the Public who have had a direct impact on community safety and well-being in Greater Sudbury.

Today, we present the 2020 Police Community Partnership Award to Marie Meawasige on behalf of the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre in Greater Sudbury. women and Chief standing holding an award

In 2015, prior to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) had reached out to the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre to develop a collaborative partnership to help ensure our community was a safer place and to help address the needs of Indigenous community members. Under the direction of Executive Director Marie Meawasige, our partnership with N’Swakamok developed and the Looking Ahead to Build The Spirit of Our Women-Learning to Live Free from Violence project was launched. The project focused on providing proactive educational opportunities and information to GSPS personnel, as well as, healing opportunities to community members with the ultimate goal of empowering women and girls to live free from violence. This has been accomplished by working collaboratively with Indigenous communities to gain insight on what service delivery should look like. Through this input, GSPS was able to make certain that our actions are led by the Indigenous community ensuring its authenticity and a grassroots approach.

In 2017, a Sexual Assault Review Team was established to increase awareness of community supports, encourage Survivors to report Sexual Assault to Police and/or community partners, reduce victimization and improve best practices for reporting. The Looking Ahead Project provided us with the opportunity to have Indigenous representatives on the review team, as well as, individuals with lived experience in order to ensure a respectful survivor-centred approach with holistic and traditional healing/support services.

Through the project, we have hosted three MMIWG conferences where family members of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls from across North America have been in attendance and provided powerful insight into their experiences. The focus of the conferences was healing and education with an emphasis on culture throughout the experience. We have heard from the family members of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls 2Spirit and all those persons affected by violence (MMIWG2S+); that the families need to help lead and need their voices heard.

In February 2020, police members and Indigenous community members came together for two days of learning about Indigenous History, the impact of Residential schools, the 60's scoop and Human Trafficking of Indigenous Women. These heavy and heartbreaking topics are difficult enough to learn about, but to be able to learn together in a safe way is incredible and speaks to the amazing, resilient and courageous community we are a part of here in Sudbury. During the training, it was noted that the relationship that GSPS shares with N’Swakamok is very unique and that this sort of training would not be possible without the support that is shown by the Indigenous community.

Indigenous History and Police don’t have positive historical beginnings; however the Friendship Centre seeks to change community viewpoints and aims to bring Police and the Indigenous Community together in a positive, authentic and respectful manner.

Congratulations to Marie Meawasige on behalf of the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre – recipient of the 2020 Police Community Partnership Award.

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