CRIME
COVER
Mohawk
Brings Environmental Message to United Kingdom
AWARDS
Saskatchewan
to Host 12th National Aboriginal Achievement Awards
BIOGRAPHY
William
LaVanway: Galloping Through Life
BUSINESS
Court
Suspends Golf Course Sale
New
Online Claim Staking Process Raises Concerns
CRIME
Ex-Fed
Charged With Fraud
Manitoba Chiefs Reject Offer
to Monitor Police Inquiry in Shooting Death
ENVIRONMENT
Eagles
Mutilated Remains Discovered on Local First Nation
Deh
Cho Demands Push Mackenzie Project into Court
FILM
Films
Take Viewer on Many a Native Journey
Two-Spirited
and Multifaceted
GOVERNMENT
Federal
Budget Postpones Action on First Nations Needs
HUMOUR
The
Funny Bone
MUSIC
Buffy
Sainte-Marie Urges Artists to Nurture Creative Side
TRADITION
Elder
Urges Eagle Murderers to Confess
WOMEN
Cries
for Community and Accountability Voiced at Women's March
Manitoba Chiefs Reject Offer to Monitor Police Inquiry in Shooting Death
By
Frank Larue
Grand Chief Dennis White Bird of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs rejected an offer by the Winnipeg Police to allow a representative of the Manitoba Chiefs to observe the investigation into the fatal police shooting of aboriginal teen Matthew Dumas.
"When we spoke on Thursday, the investigation was 70 per cent over, or finished. Then what are we going to do for the remaining 30 per cent?" asked White Bird.
"I don't want to get myself involved in a process that's flawed. That's what we've been saying from the beginning. The police cannot investigate themselves. I use the same scenario here, that if I am convicted or I'm accused of wrongdoing, do I investigate myself?"
Matthew Dumas, 18, was shot twice in Winnipeg's north end on February 1. Police said that Dumas fled from officers during a search for robbery suspects. Dumas allegedly brandished a weapon and police say they shot him in self-defense.
Winnipeg police chief Jack Ewatski said he was "prepared to take the unprecedented step of allowing for the substantial involvement of the aboriginal community in our investigative and review process by allowing a representative of Chief White Bird's choosing to closely observe the investigation."
Ewatski further offered to consult with White Bird before choosing the independent police agency that will review the internal investigation.
The province of Manitoba will also hold a public inquest into the police shooting said Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh. The justice minister said a Crown attorney from outside the province would coordinate the inquest.
"The province is appointing an outside independent prosecutor … to provide advice on whether there's a basis for any criminal proceeding or any further evidence to be gathered," said Mackintosh.
Aboriginal leaders in Manitoba said the fatal police shooting of the aboriginal teen revealed systemic, long-standing problems in the relationship between city police and the aboriginal community.
The Manitoba Southern Chiefs Organization called for an aboriginal-led inquiry and vowed to keep pressure on the provincial government to implement the recommendations of a high profile inquiry stemming from the 1988 shooting of Winnipeg aboriginal leader J.J. Harper.
"We need to fix this," said Chief Terrance Nelson of the Roseau
River First Nation.
"There's going to be a very bright light on the actions of the Winnipeg
Police, on the actions of politicians and people who have done nothing
to fix this problem since the (Aboriginal Justice Inquiry) report."
Minister Mackintosh countered the Southern Chief's arguments that the government has shelved the 1999 report on Harper's death and the relationship between police and the aboriginal community.
He said that about 90 per cent of the report's recommendations have been implemented or are a work in progress, pointing to more aboriginal policing and aboriginal agencies handling probation and child welfare.
"There has been significant movement after ten years of neglect over the course of the 1990's," said Mackintosh.
Still, the Southern Chiefs remain unconvinced.
Justice director Nahanni Fontaine said she has documented dozens of examples of police unjustly targeting young aboriginals and using excessive force.
"How long do we have to continue talking about these things before this issue is taken seriously and acted on from the government and the chief of police," asked Fontaine.
The dead teen's stepfather, Leslie Dumas, wants to know why police were chasing him with their guns drawn as witnesses have said.
"They chase someone down, you know, what are they going to do? Shoot first, ask questions later," said Dumas.
Eyewitness Crystal McManus said she was just a couple of yards from where Dumas was shot.
"(He was) right in front of me. He dropped like a brick, that poor boy," she said.
McManus said that police officers were yelling at Dumas to put down his weapon, but he didn't listen. She said the officer's pepper-sprayed Dumas three times, but he kept walking, while holding a black-handled screwdriver. McManus thinks Dumas was shot because of a sudden arm movement he made.
Another witness, Selena Harper, said that Dumas was wiping pepper spray from his face when he was shot.
"He didn't try to lunge at anybody, he was just wiping his eyes. He didn't have to die," said Harper. "It looked to me like he was going to put his arms up to rub his eyes, not like out to stab anybody."
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said: "Obviously attitudes of the
City of Winnipeg have not changed since the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry.
It is again business as usual. Cowboys against the Indians. In the past,
we know that the City of Winnipeg Police have changed the facts to protect
their own. We only hope this is not occurring in the incident."