Funds to combat organized crime in Indigenous communities announced

Federal Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree announced $2 million in funding towards fighting organized crime in Indigenous communities across Quebec.

“This will lead to increased collaboration between the Surete du Quebec and Indigenous police forces and enhance intelligence sharing and joint investigations targeting organized crime, while respecting the unique priorities of indigenous communities across Quebec,” wrote Anandasangaree in a June 15 post on X following a press meeting.

It remains unclear if a portion of the funding will be allocated to Kanesatake.

But Mohawk Council of Kanesatake caretaker council member Brant Etienne said the announcement is laying important groundwork to tackle an issue that infects many Indigenous communities across the province, even if it won’t mean boots-on-the-ground in Kanesatake.

“The problems in Kanesatake aren’t just solely problems in Kanesatake. The organized crime and the people bringing this stuff in are part of networks,” said Etienne.

“This is a way I think for them to get the groundwork going, so that they can start pulling out the roots, that helps not only us.”

In speaking with chiefs across the country at the Assembly of First Nations annual general meeting in Ottawa this past week, Etienne found that many other Indigenous communities face similar threats.

“It really is not a local issue. It’s an across Canada and international issue,” said Etienne.

Last week, Quebec vice-premier Ian Lafrenière shared in a statement with The Pines Reporter that the federal government agreed to extend funding for the Kanesatake Perimeter Security (KPS) team, a team that provides community security services.

“I have spoken on several occasions with the federal ministers of Public Safety and Indigenous Services Canada to urge them to extend funding for the KPS. They have finally agreed to extend funding for a few more months. We are also working with them to find long-term solutions. Announcements are coming very soon,” the statement reads.

Public Safety Canada responded in a statement to The Pines Reporter last week that the department is in “continued discussions with the Caretaker Council of the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake regarding the Perimeter Security funding request. Any funding decision will be informed by direct discussions with the Caretaker Council of the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake.”

And Indigenous Services Canada responded in a statement that Kanesatake was approved to carry forward any unspent funding into 2026 to 2027.

Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door