The emergency debate Tuesday came after nine Indigenous people died after direct interactions with police across Canada from Aug. 29 to Sept. 24.

Toronto Star: OTTAWA—Assembly of First Nations chiefs have voted in support of a national inquiry into the deaths of Indigenous people at the hands of police.

First Nations chiefs across the country, gathered in Ottawa this week for the AFN Special Chiefs Assembly, held an emergency debate over whether to call on the federal government to hold a national inquiry into systemic racism in policing and First Nations people’s deaths.

The emergency debate Tuesday came after nine Indigenous people died after direct interactions with police across Canada from Aug. 29 to Sept. 24. These deaths, and others that have followed in recent months, have led families of victims of police violence to gather on Parliament Hill in October to call for a national inquiry into police brutality.

The resolution was moved by Chief Allan Polchies from St. Mary’s First Nation in New Brunswick, saying a national inquiry “would give all of our citizens some answers.” The resolution was adopted by consensus.

“On our own land, we should feel safe,” Polchies said. “We shouldn’t be threatened or afraid of police that are in authority.”

The resolution called for the inquiry to be culturally sensitive and trauma-informed, with a First Nations chief commissioner to guide the inquiry.

It also called for reforms in policing, including the establishment of national crisis intervention team and changes to use-of-force techniques.

Seconding the resolution was Chief Jerry Jack from Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation in British Columbia, a former RCMP officer who said he is “ashamed” to have been part of the force. He added that he had experienced police violence himself and left the force because of racism.

Indigenous people are disproportionately represented in Canada’s justice system, including higher numbers in prison and deaths by police use of force, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit crisis and funding inequities in local policing.

The AFN, which represents more than 630 First Nations across the country, has previously called for changes to policing in Canada, including calling for First Nations police forces to be an essential service in 2021. This would help to ensure First Nations police get the funding, resources, infrastructure and personnel they need under federal legislation.

National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak told reporters that the AFN will be speaking with the federal government about an inquiry sometime this week.

A press conference with the national chief, regional chiefs and families of victims is also scheduled for Wednesday.

“We have to start working on reform. We have to start working on making sure that investments get to First Nations,” Woodhouse Nepinak said.

The national chief said she believes there will be challenges getting an inquiry going, as “anything that we always fought for has always been hard-fought.”

Canadian politicians have also called for action. In September, New Democrat MP Lori Idlout called for an emergency debate in the House of Commons over the nine deaths by police use of force.

Gabriel Brunet, spokesperson for the Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc, said in a statement to the Star that the federal government recognizes that the “recent officer-involved fatal incidents in Indigenous communities have been incredibly difficult for community members.”

Due to the ongoing independent investigations into the recent deaths, Brunet said the government will not comment further at this time.

Brunet said LeBlanc recently met Woodhouse Nepinak to discuss working together “to ensure policing in Canada is responsive and respectful.”

“There is still a lot of work to be done, but we will get there through ongoing collaboration and frank, open dialogue.”

By Joy SpearChief-MorrisOttawa Bureau

Joy SpearChief-Morris is an Ottawa-based reporter covering federal politics and Indigenous issues for the Star. Reach her via email: jspearchiefmorris@thestar.ca

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