After years of development, engagement, and consultation the first Indigenous Justice Strategy was released in Canada in March 2025. A key element of the strategy will be supporting access to culturally responsive policing. This webcast will bring First Nations leaders and policy experts together to discuss strategies, resources, and investments in First Nations-led policing and access to justice.
Chief Jerel (Jerry) Swamp,
President, First Nations Chiefs of Police Association
Dr. Heidi Kiiwetinepinesiik Stark, Associate Professor, Indigenous Governance, University of Victoria
Constable Tammy Dodginghorse, Tsuut'ina Nation Police Service
Chief Gordon Bluesky, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
Moderator: Willow Fiddler,
National News Reporter,
The Globe and Mail
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Willow Fiddler is a national news reporter for The Globe and Mail, covering northern Ontario and Manitoba. Prior to joining The Globe, she was a video journalist for Aboriginal Peoples Television Network National News reporting in Thunder Bay. She is a three-time finalist for the Canadian Association of Journalists awards and the recipient of the 2017 Emerging Indigenous Journalist award. Ms. Fiddler is passionate about stories and issues that impact Indigenous people and communities, particularly in the North.
Mr. Watts was the interim Executive Director of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which examined and made recommendations regarding the Indian Residential School era and its legacy. He has served as Chief of Staff to two National Chiefs of the Assembly of First Nations. In these positions, he helped negotiate the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, then the largest class-action settlement in Canada’s history, and played a key role in historic budget allocations and the passage of Bills C-91 and 92 in 2019. His record of public service also includes positions as an Assistant Deputy Minister for the Government of Canada and as a Senior Executive in Ontario.
Mr. Robert (Bob) Watts is the former Vice-President of Indigenous Relations and Strategic Programs at the Nuclear Waste Management Organization and a much sought-after expert in Indigenous policy, negotiations, training, and conflict resolution.
Mr. Watts is an Adjunct Professor and Distinguished Fellow at Queen’s University, where he developed one of Canada’s first graduate-level courses on Reconciliation. Mr. Watts is a member of Queen’s University’s Board of Trustees, the Consensus Building Institute, and the Indigenous Advanced Education and Skills Council. He is the founding Chair of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund and Chair of Reconciliation Canada. He is a recipient of the Indspire Award for Public Service and recently received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from McMaster University. He holds a Master in Public Administration degree from Harvard University.
Mr. Watts is from the Mohawk and Ojibway Nations and resides at Six Nations Reserve in Ontario. He carries and honours his Ojibway spirit name, Kinoozishingwak (Tall Pine), and is a member of the Bear Clan.
Heidi Kiiwetinepinesiik Stark (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe) is an Associate Professor of Indigenous Governance. My approach to Indigenous law has sought to advance the restoration of Indigenous political authority and jurisdiction, transform our understandings of treaty and promote a radical ethic of relationality for how we live together as treaty partners, as communities within which conflict and harms arise and as humans in relation with the environment. I am the co-editor of Indigenous Resurgence in an Age of Reconciliation with Aimée Craft and Hōkūlani K. Aikau (University of Toronto Press, 2023) and Centering Anishinaabeg Studies: Understanding the World through Stories with Jill Doerfler and Niigaanwewidam Sinclair (University of Manitoba Press, 2013), the co-author of the 3rd and 4th editions of American Indian Politics and the American Political System with David E. Wilkins (Rowman & Littlefield, 2010, 2017), and one of the co-editors of the Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) Journal with Gina Starblanket.
Ian Bailey is a reporter with The Globe and Mail’s Ottawa Bureau. This is his latest assignment in a journalism career that has taken him across Canada, from a posting as the St. John’s correspondent for The Canadian Press, through CP assignment’s in Toronto and Vancouver. Also in Vancouver, he reported for The National Post and the Province, where he covered federal and provincial politics.
Ian joined The Globe and Mail in 2007, covering politics, crime, the B.C. film and TV production sector, and a range of other stories while based in the Vancouver Bureau. His West Coast reporting included the Surrey Six murders, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and the 2011 Stanley Cup Riot.
Born in the U.K. and raised in the Toronto area, Ian graduated from York University and Toronto Metropolitan University.
Chief Jerel (Jerry) Swamp has 29 years of policing experience in First Nation Communities. He joined the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service in 1991 and has held the ranks of Constable, Detective Sergeant and Acting Deputy Chief before becoming the Police Services Chief of Police in 2009. In 2017 he retired from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service after serving 8 years as the Chief of police. In October 2018 Chief Swamp joined the men and women of Rama Police Service as their Chief of Police.
Chief Swamp spent 15 years conducting major criminal investigations which included death investigations, trafficking and conspiracies related to weapons and controlled substances between Canada and the United States.
He is a past recipient of the First Nations Chiefs of Police outstanding service award for his work in numerous organized crime investigations. He is also the recipient of the Governor General’s Exemplary Service Medal in 2011. In 2013 Chief Swamp was the recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award for his outstanding contribution to First Nations Policing in Canada.
He has presented on many topics across Canada including Organized Crime in native communities, Critical Incidents and management in Native Communities, Policing in a multi-jurisdictional location as well as operational planning and search warrant drafting.
Craig Upshaw is a retired member of Halifax Regional Police. Craig established the Hate Crimes Unit for the Halifax police and investigative guidelines for the Halifax Police Service. He and his team was awarded the CAO award of excellence for the creation of the Hate Crime Unit. He previously was the Equity and Diversity Officer for Halifax Regional Police where he formed and maintains positive relationships with various ethnic, cultural, religious and LGBTQ2S+ communities in Nova Scotia. He started his career with Halifax Regional Police in 2001 and has worked in the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division where he served in a variety of units and sections such as Criminal Intelligence Unit, Drug Section, Cold Case, General Investigative Section and Hate Crimes Unit.
Craig Upshaw investigated over 500 Hate related matters since the unit was created and provided assistance on Hate Investigations and created the Community Reassurance protocol. He also provided training to all sworn members, civilian members and Victim services at Halifax Regional Police Craig also served on the Hate Crime Task Force committee through the Canadian Race Relation Federation, was part of the (HCEIT) Hate Crime Extremist Investigative Team, (AHCIG) Alberta Hate Crime Investigative Group and sat on CACP CVE/IMVE extremist subcommittee. He still teaches Hate Crime Investigations, Community Engagement and Reassurance and is involved in numerous speaking engagements today.
Dakota Kochie (he/him) is currently the Director of Government and External Affairs at the Nuclear Waste Management Organization. Dakota most recently wrapped up his role as Chief of Staff for the Assembly of First Nations, Canada’s largest advocacy organization.
Dakota is a humble advocate for First Nations issues and continues to advise First Nations leaders on intergovernmental, budget, and economic development issues. He was appointed by the Minister of Environment to the Canadian Environment Domestic Advisory Group (CEDAG) for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Dakota has also worked for a Member of Parliament and worked on a number of federal, provincial, and municipal political campaigns.
In Dakota’s free time, Dakota is an avid kayaker, football fan, and a passionate advocate for Indigenous inclusion. Dakota is a proud Anishinaabe man from Pinaymootang First Nation (Treaty Two).
Chief BlueSky is a highly motivated, results-based professional and leader with tremendous experience in lands governance, resource management, and negotiations. He was recognized by the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association in 2016 for excellence in Lands Management that has contributed and influenced the field of land management beyond their community. BlueSky received an Honourable Mention for the Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Award for being a catalyst in bringing First Nations together in the creation of the Lake Winnipeg Indigenous Collective in 2015.
Prior to his election, Chief BlueSky worked as the Director of Lands for the Treaty One Development Corporation (T1DC). This was a very fitting role for BlueSky due to his involvement with the Kapyong Barracks land claim during the early years of its initiation by BON in the early 2000s. During his time at Treaty One, BlueSky successfully led negotiations to finalize the “Gaawijijigemangit Agreement”, the Municipal Development Services Agreement with the City of Winnipeg which secures the provision of basic infrastructural services for the Naawi-Oodena Treaty One Joint Reserve.
Prior to his time with T1DC, BlueSky had 18 years of experience working with BON, Fox Lake Cree Nation, and the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee of Manitoba. In these roles he championed the work on important land claims, with a primary focus on reserve creation as well as land, environment, and resource protection. Chief BlueSky is also a strong advocate for reform to child welfare and educational systems, having lived experience in Canada’s colonial history as a survivor of the 60s Scoop who eventually returned home from the United States to rediscover his heritage and become the leader he is today.
Chief BlueSky is a dedicated family man and married to his wife with three beautiful daughters. Chief BlueSky was raised as the only brother in a family of sisters and has a tremendous respect for Ikwewag (women) and their roles as life givers.