[PRISONACT] Continuing Atrocities by Canadian Police Against First Nations People
pa...@prisonactivist.org
Subject: Continuing Police Atrocities Against Canadian First Nations
Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2000 14:59:59 -0500
From: mon...@duke.usask.ca (Patricia Monture Angus)
Good day everyone:
I am writing to you to ask that you support the position of the Federation
of Saskatchewan Indian Nations regarding the recent policing crisis in
Saskatchewan. I ask for your support in a letter writing campaign
organized by the FSIN and at the end of this email I will provide you a
list of politicians to forward letters to.
I hope you have all heard about the situation, but I will share the facts
very briefly just in case you don't know. In early February, a First
Nation's man Darrell Night reported that he had been taken outside the
city and dropped off by Saskatoon police. As you can guess, February
nights are mighty cold in Saskatchewan. Around the same time that Mr.
Night was dropped off, two frozen bodies of First Nations men (Lawrence
Wegner, a SIFC student and Rodney Naistus) were found in fields near the
"drop off" spot. There are three other deaths that are also suspicious
and similar. This police practice has a nickname on the street, it is
called a "starlight tour". Obviously, if a street nickname exists this is
not an isolated practice.
The FSIN has prepared a "draft sample B.C.R." to circulate to First
Nations community which I will reproduce here. It provides further
information on the first steps toward solution that FSIN is putting
forward:
"WHEREAS recent events have brought a re-newed sense of urgency to issues
of policing in Saskatchewan and the treatment of First Nations citizens by
both the police and justice system;
AND WHEREAS telephone calls to the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian
nations made since the release of the news about the recent deaths of two
young First Nations men and the mal-treatment of another, indicate that
the individual acts of discrimination against First Nations citizens by
the police are neither isolated or random acts, nor are they solely
situated around the city of Saskatoon;
AND WHEREAS the overwhelming number of calls point to the systemic nature
of the occurrence of unjust practices against First Nation's by police
officers;
AND WHEREAS it is well documented that the First Nation's people have been
consistently mistreated by the various sectors of the existing Canadian
Justice system as demonstrated by the findings of the numerous justice
inquiries, commissions, studies, and reviews;
AND WHEREAS the First Nation's leadership and citizens have consistently
called for fairness and equity for the First Nations people who find
themselves caught in the justice system;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the First Nation Leadership, on behalf of
our citizens demand the following:
1. The Government of Saskatchewan, in conjunction with their federal
counterparts, act, in an affirmative manner and with necessary haste in
offering a firm commitment to the First Nation citizens living in this
province to call a public inquiry into the entire justice system with
clear acknowledgment of the systemic nature of the injustices and with
clear commitment to act on recommendations made;
2. In order to being the long and difficult process of renewing the faith
of the First Nations, both as Nations and as individuals, in the justice
services provided in this province, we demand the immediate termination of
the employment of the police officers who have admitted to dropping off
the surviving young First Nations man outside of the city of Saskatoon in
sub zero weather."
It is my understanding that FSIN is not calling for an inquiry that
reproduces the numerous inquiries of the past, but rather a public inquiry
to ensure that all First Nation's citizens in this province have the right
to be heard. The truth must come out before any reconciliation can be
made. Letting the truth be spoken is also the first stage of the healing
process.
The news on Thursday was that the police union will be appealing the
decision to suspend the two officers involved in the Night incident
without pay for 60 days. The police association asserts that the FSIN is
using this as a political opportunity and that the officers have a good
reason for what they did. It is my view that the police association could
not make this assertions if the province had strongly condemned the
practice of "starlighting". The gap that is left by the provincial
justice minister's failure to fully condemn practices is creating the
circumstance where further harm is done to First Nations.
My view is that FSIN, and especially Chief Perry Bellegarde and Vice-Chief
Lawrence Joseph, are firmly and passionately committed to seeking justice.
This is why I have chosen at this time to support FSIN's efforts by
sending out this email.
Please feel free to forward this letter on to your friends. If you have
any questions, you can get back to me too.
The letters should go to:
Minister Chris Axworthy
Department of Justice
10th Floor
1874 Scarth Street
Regina, Saskatchewan
FAX (306)787-1232
And copies to:
Prime Minister Jean Chretien
Langevin Blk.
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A2
FAX (613)941-6900
Minister of Indian Affairs, Robert Nault
407 West Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
FAX: (613)996-1759
Minister Anne McLellan
Department of Justice
East Memorial Building
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H8
FAX: (613)990-7528
The Hon. Lawrence MacAulay
Solicitor General of Canada
340 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0P8
FAX: (613)952-2240
Minister Jack Hillson
Intergovernment & Aboriginal Affairs
10th Floor
1919 Saskatchewan Drive
Regina Saskatchewan
FAX: (306)787-1669
And of course, please ensure that FSIN is also copied as follows:
Office of the Chief
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
Suite 200 - 103A Packham Avenue
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 4K4
FAX: (306)244-4413
or by email to Darcy McKenzie at mc...@fsin.com
Regards, Trisha Monture-Angus
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