Manitoba First Nations Police Service

MFNPS is the oldest First Nations police service in Canada!

Our police service was first established in 1974 as the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council Police Department. On June 1, 2018, the “Dakota Ojibway Police Service (DOPS)” officially changed its name to the “Manitoba First Nations Police Service”, to encompass any added First Nations communities in Manitoba.

The Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS) was formerly known as the Dakota Ojibway Police Service (DOPS), which was established in 1977 by the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council (DOTC).

The DOPS was funded by Indian & Northern Affairs Canada from 1977 to 1993 and aimed to provide local control and accountability for policing to the First Nation communities.

In 1993, the DOPS ceased operations due to a lack of funding from the Province of Manitoba. In 1994, tripartite negotiations between the DOTC, Manitoba Justice and Public Safety Canada resulted in an interim policing service agreement that restored joint policing services (DOPS/RCMP) to seven of the eight DOTC member communities.

On December 31, 1994, a long-term tripartite agreement was finalized and on February 1, 1995, the DOPS resumed full-time policing services to six DOTC First Nation communities: Birdtail Sioux First Nation, Dakota Plains Wahpeton Nation, Long Plain First Nation, Canupawakpa Dakota Nation, Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation and Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.

The DOPS became a standalone police service in 1997, with its own police commission consisting of one member from each of the communities serviced by DOPS. The DOPS was the only police agency in Manitoba governed by a police commission.

On June 1, 2018, the DOPS changed its name to the Manitoba First Nations Police Service, reflecting its goal to become the police service of choice to First Nations seeking alternatives in policing. The MFNPS has support from the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Assembly of First Nations.

We continue to grow as the police service of choice for First Nation communities in Manitoba.