Six Nations of the Grand River is the first Indigenous community to receive funding from the federal government’s $250 million Building Safer Communities Fund.
Marco Mendicino, minister of Public Safety, announced Friday that Six Nations will receive up to $1.9 million to support local programs aimed at tackling gun crime and combating violence among young people involved in, or at risk of joining gangs.
“Walking the road of reconciliation means supporting grassroots initiatives in First Nations communities, by First Nations communities,” Mendicino said in a media release. “This funding from the BSCF will help support the great work that’s already happening on the ground, helping people make healthy choices and set themselves up for success in life. I look forward to seeing the difference it makes for young people across Six Nations.”
The funding is part of wide-ranging endeavors to enhance public safety by increased funding for First Nations police services, improving border security to prevent gun smuggling, banning more than 1,500 models of assault-style weapons, and creating a buyback program to get guns off streets, said the release.
“Protecting the safety and security of families is the first responsibility of any governing authority, and Six Nations families want a safe and secure community in which to raise our children,” said Six Nations elected chief Mark Hill. “This is just one step, but an important one, towards building that more secure future.”
Public Safety Canada says the amount of BSCF support for a community is based on population and crime severity such as incidents of firearms offences, organized crime or street-gang involved crime, and homicides by firearms.
The 2021 federal budget included $861 million over five years to support culturally responsive policing and community safety services in First Nations communities.