Be ready to transform community policing with knowledge of Indigenous culture by completing a series of Indigenous Policing Micro-Credentials at Lethbridge College.
Developed in partnership with the Blood Tribe Police Service, you can take as many or all of the courses as you need to deepen your cultural awareness for better relationships and communication.
Understanding Indigenous culture, trauma and traditions can contribute to more positive interactions and create a foundation of respect in Indigenous communities.
Complete all six courses and participate in the Indigenous Policing Hub to build your cultural proficiency and show your commitment to truth and reconciliation.
Choose micro-credential by topic:
The course begins with a brief history of Indigenous peoples in Canada from colonization to the present day. There is an emphasis on the Indian Act and residential schools, and their impact on Indigenous people. Community order prior to colonization is explored. The role of the RCMP and the evolution of tribal policing is discussed. The final module documents the move forward towards reconciliation and decolonization.
This course centres on communication as a means of building trust and earning respect in Indigenous communities. You'll learn about the significance of stories and storytelling in Indigenous society, and the use of humour. Content is devoted to the role of the Elders, the significance of land acknowledgements, ceremonies and special days. An entire module is devoted to conversational Blackfoot, and additional language resources are provided.
This course includes the definitions of human trafficking as embedded in the Criminal Code, the elements and signs of human trafficking, and identifies the trafficking of persons protocol.
This course describes and defines the impacts of trauma, abuse, intimate partner violence and the abuse of elderly people. It explains the vulnerability of Indigenous persons, linking it to the effects of intergenerational trauma and residential schools. To a significant degree, the modules in the course rely on the lived experience of Indigenous community members and current members of local police services.
View Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and the Abuse of Elderly Persons
In this course, you will explore the incidence and circumstances surrounding sexual abuse in Indigenous communities. You'll learn why victims are often reluctant to report abuse and access services, and why this presents a challenge to your investigations. You'll receive some guidance in terms of responding to victims non-judgmentally and empathically. In addition, the police and community response to missing persons are explored. Finally, community resources including Victim Service Units are described.
We'll begin with an overview of addiction and its impact on Indigenous communities before exploring the complexities of policing in such environments. We will then explore restorative justice and you'll get a brief refresher on the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the law surrounding the possession of drugs. In the process, you'll continue to develop your understanding of the dynamics of Indigenous Communities and the strategies you will need to understand and serve in an Indigenous community.
PLEASE NOTE: The Drugs and Addictions in Indigenous Communities micro-credential is restricted to actively serving members of a police service.
Complete the full series of Indigenous policing micro-credentials
PLEASE NOTE: The Drugs and Addictions in Indigenous Communities micro-credential is restricted to actively serving members of a police service. All other micro-credentials in this series are available to the public as well as actively serving members of a police service.
Join the Indigenous Policing Micro-credential Hub where you can participate in discussions with other learners about the courses. This hub is monitored by an instructor and is an important part of completing each course.
How it Works
Micro-credentials are fast and flexible. All six courses are offered online and asynchronously, which means you move at a pace and space that works for you. You can enrol, start and complete a course in as little as seven hours. Prices are affordable to make them accessible for people working in policing, exploring career opportunities or working on personal growth.
After completing a micro-credential, which involves seven to 10 hours of online asynchronous learning with an assessment, you’ll earn a badge to share on your social networks and resumé to validate the skills you’ve achieved.
Courses start October 16, 2023
Introductory cost is $75 per course or $400 for the full suite.
If you have any questions, please contact
[email protected]