Kainai rep takes position on provincial advisory committee
By Troy Bannerman - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on November 23, 2022.
Tyler Oka of Kainai Community Corrections was recently appointed to the province’s Public Security Indigenous Advisory Committee.This is an honour that he is very qualified and passionate for, with Oka working with policing and corrections organizations since 2009. Troubling statistics involving Indigenous incarceration rates in Canada solidified Oka’s desire to work in corrections.
“It wasn’t until I got into my degree program that I started doing a lot of research papers on the over representation of First Nations in Canada in the criminal justice system. And this really sparked my interest in the corrections field. And then ‘How are we addressing this issue as First Nations people?’ and ‘What are we doing to help our own people?’ You know? And then this federal reintegration job came up and I took that. And then also I got on with the Blood Tribe Police Commission. It really sparked my passion for this. I really want to continue on and I want to help the people – clients within the criminal justice system. And work on finding a solution to address the overrepresentation. I’m just hoping that my being involved with this new board and my current roles now, and with the Blood Tribe Police Commission that I can do that. Affect some small change, you know, a step in the right direction.”
A major part of his current position is helping people connect with the supports they need after their sentences have been carried out to help them reintegrate back into society and their community.
“Yeah, then it’s my job to connect them with services, and to help them find employment, schooling, whatever it is and then, also part of the process they have to obtain approval from the Tribe so they can return to the community. And then also right now, I’m the acting senior probation officer for the Community Corrections Program. So I supervise two probation officers in our office. And then we work with people on probation from the provincial system. And then also we do have a Provincial Reintegration through the Guns and Gangs Program and then we also have the Court Workers Program.”
The purpose of the Public Security Indigenous Advisory Committee is to encourage and include Indigenous communities in the development of policing and corrections services in the province of Alberta.
On the subject Oka said “The purpose is to advise the Government of Alberta of plans and to provide advice and recommendations to improve public safety through Alberta, including Indigenous communities. So, it’s not just going to be limited to Indigenous communities but how to address the overrepresentation, and the way we look at policing First Nations individuals. And its a step towards Reconciliation, you know, giving us that voice from the top down. Rather than how it’s been in the past is, the plan was brought to us and we say, ‘Well, this is the plan.’ Well, this in a sense reverses that. When we are from top down, we can advise before the plan is even hatched. Which I believe is a better way of doing it. And the way they have included so many nation members from all over Alberta is awesome, too, because First Nations communities are different from community to community and they are not all the same. There’s different traditions, customs, ways they do things. You know, the Blackfoot tribes, they had their own traditional way of policing and customs, and I can’t
speak for up north, but I’m sure they have their own ways they use to police their people and how they used to deal with that justice piece in their culture. So, it’s good that they are including a lot of us throughout the community, and realized that one plan doesn’t fit all.”
Oka believes that community involvement, especially when it comes to incorporating Indigenous practices and traditions into the way First Nations handle their public safety, corrections, and reintegration programs is essential.
He hopes that this new committee will “Just give them [Indigenous communities] a voice. And hopefully it can bring change to our systems down here as well. And communicate with my community whether it be through the corrections or the Blood Tribe Police Commission or directly through Chief and Council, community members, take their concerns and then bring it to that [planning and advising] level. Be that voice for them that is so desperately needed.”
“I believe this is a critical component that we were missing from years past was the First Nation’s viewpoint, and that collaboration at the top between Alberta and the First Nations communities. As I’ve said I’m excited to be appointed to this board, and I hope to do good things in my term with them. And I hope this board continues on for many years after my term is finished.” 2
-1
