First Nations Chiefs share thoughts on Inquest recommendations, hoping for National Inquiry

During the press conference itself, reporters heard statements from and were able to ask questions to Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, Vice Chief of the FSIN Aly Bear, Prince Albert Grand Council Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte, Assistant Commissioner and Commanding Officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP Rhonda Blackmore, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron, victim’s family member Chelsey Stonestand, and James Smith Cree Nation Chief Wally Burns.

Common themes discussed were the lack of police services on First Nations and the long response times, the lack of funding for these services, the potential of self-administered policing, and to eliminate drug and alcohol availability and addictions.

They also talked about the lack of Indigenous people on parole boards and called for a National Inquiry.

For the AFN and the FSIN, their primary topic of discussion was policing and the lack of funding, as they’re hoping to get $3.6 billion in the next federal budget.

“It took the RCMP 22 minutes to reach the community after numerous 911 calls came into the RCMP detachment and that response time would be unacceptable if that was a non-First Nations community… I hope that they take these recommendations seriously and that we’re not missing place a year from now,” said Woodhouse Nepinak.

“We want them to know that their families did not pass away for no reason and that we’re going to continue to fight for justice. We’re going to try to make sure that there’s change implemented across the country because of what happened and because what happened was preventable if there were resources in place,” added Bear.

“We’re still battling to keep peace and harmony in our communities because it’s still a challenge. It’s going to take a whole lot of resources to get peace, safety and harmony restored in our communities, where our elders will feel safe to walk and our youth don’t have to worry about drug dealers at the age of 10 years old,” Cameron said.

As for the local chiefs, their premises focused on self-policing, making decisions as a community, getting the ball rolling yesterday, and starting a National Inquiry.

“I really want to look at change and it has to start now. 29 recommendations were said yesterday, so let’s start the work, my doors are open. I’m getting frustrated because it’s like we’re spinning our wheels over and over and nothing’s happening. This is where we have to stop it and if you want to do a true partnership, come walking through that door,” Burns explained.

“I think it’d be more appropriate if we went in the National Inquiry route because that gives it more clout in regards to moving forward with all the provincial and federal jurisdictions. It gives more emphasis in regards to developing a strategic plan, so that’s the way I want to see it and it should happen that way because it’s not working right now,” he continued.

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by Ben Tompkins

First Nations Chiefs share thoughts on Inquest recommendations, hoping for National Inquiry

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