ManitobaA former journalist and grand chief has been tapped to lend “an Indigenous lens” to Winnipeg police leadership.Sheila North says work needed to repair relationships ‘gone astray for many generations’CBC News · Posted: Sep 02, 2025 2:11 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours agoSheila North, left, has been named external Indigenous adviser for the Winnipeg Police Service. The new role was an idea of Chief Gene Bowers, right, who previously vowed to ‘heal past wounds’ between the police force and Indigenous people in the city. (Travis Golby/CBC)A former journalist and grand chief has been tapped to lend “an Indigenous lens” to Winnipeg police leadership.Sheila North will serve as the Winnipeg Police Service’s first external Indigenous adviser, starting immediately, police Chief Gene Bowers said at a news conference Tuesday.The newly created role is intended to provide insight, advice and guidance to the service’s leadership on strategic efforts that involve Indigenous people, police said in a news release.About 12 per cent of the service’s current workforce is Indigenous, and Bowers said he felt it needed expertise from someone outside of the organization.North said she will be a critical eye to help guide the force’s service to the city’s Indigenous population — the largest urban population of Indigenous people in Canada.”I represent what the community says and … thinks, in a lot of ways,” she said at the news conference.While North has had good experiences with police in the past, she has also been disappointed and made to feel vulnerable a few times.”I know that there is a lot of work to do to repair some of these relationships that have gone astray for many generations, but we also know that policing and the role of policing is very important.”In 2015, North became the first woman to lead Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which represents dozens of First Nations in northern Manitoba.The member of Bunibonibee Cree Nation in northern Manitoba also has more than a decade of experience working as a journalist, including stints at CBC and CTV.North previously ran twice to become grand chief of the national Assembly of First Nations and twice to become grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.She’s been critical of police in the past as a journalist, grand chief and citizen, and said that’s why the external aspect of the new role is important.”I want that level of separation, where I am able to look at work and initiatives … in a critical way if I have to.”WATCH | Winnipeg police name Sheila North as first external Indigenous relations adviser: Winnipeg police name Sheila North as first external Indigenous relations adviserA former journalist and grand chief has been tapped to lend “an Indigenous lens” to Winnipeg police leadership. Sheila North will serve as the Winnipeg Police Service’s first external Indigenous adviser, starting immediately, police Chief Gene Bowers said at a news conference Tuesday.’Our own North star’Bowers, who vowed to “heal past wounds” between the police force and Indigenous people in Winnipeg as he was sworn in earlier this year, said the new position is part of that mission.”It’s something that I wanted to do for a long time, and being the chief now, I have the opportunity to do it,” he said.”It is my hope and intention that with the guidance of an external Indigenous adviser, we will ensure that we get there, so that all Indigenous people are heard, feel valued and, most importantly, feel safe.”Markus Chambers, chair of the Winnipeg Police Board, said the force was in need of someone who can “lend an Indigenous lens” to the service’s leadership.The board consistently hears from the community that the police force needs to not only protect diverse communities, but also support them.North’s expertise in building bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities will be a great asset for Winnipeg police, Chambers said.”In days of old, sailors used to use the North Star as their guidance,” he said. “We have our own North star.”Damon Johnston, a Winnipeg Police Board member and president of the Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg, said the addition of an external Indigenous adviser is long overdue.He described North as a bridge-builder, which he believes makes her a good fit.”I think she’s very capable. She’s got a good way of approaching these kind of issues,” said Johnston, who has been on the board for six years.”She’s got a huge network. She can draw from people not just in Winnipeg, but internationally too, for advice and guidance … because none of us, me or anybody else, has all the answers for anything.”‘Look for results,’ says advocateHilda Anderson-Pyrz, a longtime advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ people, said the new advisory role is a step forward for police in repairing strained relationships with the Indigenous community. However, she warned that it must not be a performative position.”I’m always open to mechanisms that can create change and improve outcomes for Indigenous populations, but I say proceed with caution, watch and see … look for results that have impact on the ground,” she said.Anderson-Pyrz said some people may be cautious or weary of the position at first, given the existing relationship between police and Indigenous communities.”Relationships have been very strained. Many people have witnessed the systemic and structural racism along with police brutality,” she said. “When Indigenous people do go to police seeking supports and resources, they’re often mistreated and they’re not treated with dignity and respect.”With files from Gavin Axelrod
New adviser brings ‘Indigenous lens’ to Winnipeg police
