A member of Lac Seul has been selected to examine human trafficking in northwestern Ontario, with a specific focus on Indigenous persons.
Funded by Ontario’s Solicitor General, the Provincial Police have hired Dr. Olsen Harper.
Detective Sergeant Andrew Taylor heads up the Anti-Human Trafficking Investigation Coordination Team and he explains the role of Dr. Harper.
“Basically fill the gap that we feel exists in terms of what the police know about human trafficking in terms of recruitment, transportation and actual exploitation in northwestern Ontario and what’s going on.”
Taylor says the increased knowledge will help police enhance training and coordination of resources to reduce this violent crime.
He says the ultimate goal is prevention and having police work with social services partners and community groups, such as the Kenora Human Trafficking Coalition, at a local level.
Taylor says the study is due to the secret nature of this criminal activity and the reluctance of highly traumatized individuals to actually report it to police.
He notes human trafficking is, “One of those things that doesn’t have a specific location. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking it is a large city problem. However, actually more of the recruitment of human trafficking goes on in small town and rural Ontario.”
Taylor adds, “Anywhere that an individual can find someone who they believe is vulnerable to exploit for money and that is, unfortunately, typically something that is easier to find in areas where there are socio-economic problems.”
He says as human trafficking victims are often from vulnerable populations and do not identify as victims to the police, Dr. Olsen Harper will independently gather information from the public, police, and survivors, while providing anonymity to victims who may wish to come forward.
Taylor believes this work will identify the reality of human trafficking in our region and its impact on Indigenous individuals and communities.
If you are a survivor of human trafficking, contact Dr. Olsen Harper at aolsenharper@bell.net
For additional information on human trafficking, visit Canadian Centre To End Human Trafficking or Trafficking Hotline call toll-free at 1-833-900-1010.
ABOUT THE RESEARCHER
Dr. Olsen Harper has an in-depth awareness and understanding of Indigenous issues in Canada. With a PhD in Education from University of Ottawa, her primary expertise is in anti-violence in Indigenous communities, Indigenous education/training, health and well-being, community-based participatory research, Indigenous knowledge translation and history/heritage representation. Dr. Olsen Harper is an active board member of the Màmawi Together, Community Reconciliation in Action and supports many advisory committees that work to address Indigenous concerns.
