The First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples are some of the most amazing and wonderful Peoples in the world. The vast majority of Canadian Settlers, Canadian Law Enforcement Personnel and people all over the world deeply admire and respect their intelligence, highly advanced cultures and leadership in many areas. Unfortunately there still exists in Canada some rotten apples in the barrel, ignorant individuals who do not share this view, extremists who see First Nations people as second rate people. Unfortunately, these individuals exist both within Canadian society and within the Law Enforcement Community. Their ignorance remains a threat to First Nation Peoples, to Canadians and to tourists. In many situations these individuals will use violence against First Nations people to express their misguided beliefs, ignorance and fear. What can we all do to finally END the thinking and actions of these individuals? What should a Canadian Settler do when they witness Police brutality towards First Nations Peoples?
Before we consider the steps we should all take, to stop Police brutality towards First Nations people, it is appropriate and honourable to briefly read and reflect upon the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document drafted by a Canadian, John Peters Humphrey. The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled. Many men and women fought and died so that we could live under the protection of it’s articles. Our Law Enforcement Personnel in Canada are expressly employed and are directed to uphold the articles it contains.
DOES POLICE BRUTALITY TOWARDS FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE EXIST IN CANADA?
It’s not what anyone wants to believe about Canada. The image of Canada around the world is of a peaceful, beautiful Country that is at ease with multiculturalism. Unfortunately this is not the truth, as can be witnessed here. In 2013, Human Rights Watch began investigating reports of human rights violations against First Nations women in Canada. What they discovered by interviewing First Nations people is best examined first hand, please read pages 59-65 of their independent report. WARNING: The content of this report is deeply disturbing.
THE SITUATION AND THE RISK
The risk of violence directed towards a First Nations woman or man, by anyone, is greatly magnified when the Police turn a blind eye towards these criminal actions. The level of risk varies based on the situation and environment. For obvious reasons when a First Nations woman or man is alone, she/he is at greater risk than she/he would be in a group situation or at an event such as a protest. For purposes of the development of action aimed to ‘Stop Police brutality’ towards First Nations people we need to consider each of these situations with careful and considered deliberation. The three situations : 1) ALONE 2) IN A SMALL GROUP 3) IN A LARGE GROUP, each require a different response, defensive reaction and counter action that is agreed upon by our community.
SURVIVING
The primary goal within each of these situations is to survive. The secondary goals are healing and recovery. The final goal is justice and the prosecution of the law against the criminal.
STEP ONE: DEFEND THE VICTIM AND RECORD THE EVIDENCE: VIDEO AND PHOTOGRAPHY
If you witness an assault against a First Nations person your first duty, as a Canadian Settler, is to defend that First Nations person. If the assault is from an ignorant individual against a First Nations person, immediately call the Police on 911. If the assault is from an ignorant Police Constable against a First Nations person, immediately call the Police on 911. For both situations, if the Police are not available to arrest the criminal, it is completely appropriate to defend the person being assaulted against further assault and make a citizens arrest. Fortunately, we also now live in a world where HD video recorders and cameras are at our finger tips, record what you witness. Use your video and camera equipment to gather footage of ignorant individuals or Police Constables who are starting to behave strangely towards First Nations people. The more video footage and photographic stills you can gather the better. Do not at any point confront the Police Constable with this evidence at the scene, he may react very aggressively or confiscate your equipment from you. Remember when a Police Constable assaults someone they are no longer a Police Constable, they become an armed and dangerous criminal. At this stage simply and quietly gather the evidence required to determine the truth of what actually happened.
STEP TWO: ENGAGE A SENIOR OFFICER AT THE SCENE
If you are at a public venue or protest, it is recommended that you immediately consult with a Senior Officer at the scene. DO NOT attempt to arrest a Police Constable at a protest scene, this is extremely dangerous and may result in yourself being arrested in retaliation. ASK the Senior Officer to; recognize the injury or incident, confront the Constable who has committed the assault, and then ask the Senior Officer to arrest the Police Constable who assaulted the First Nations person. Ensure that there are other people there to record everything and witness this. If possible ask both the Senior Officer and the Constable to apologize, with witnesses present, this will capture a witnessed admittance of liability. If there is not a Senior Officer at the scene then immediately call 911 for additional backup. DO NOT attempt to arrest a Police Constable at a protest situation.
STEP THREE: WRITE A WITNESS STATEMENT
As soon as you are safely away from the scene, sit down calmly and write a full witness statement of what you saw or experienced. Ensure that it is truthful, factual and complete. How to complete a witness statement, can be read here. It is important to complete your witness statement calmly and within a short time period following the incident.
STEP FOUR: WITNESS VERIFICATION
After you have collected your video and photographic files and completed your witness statement, share these with everyone directly involved to share with them what you witnessed. Ask them to verify that your written statement is a full, truthful and complete version of the incident. This verification is important as it eliminates any claim of either witness exaggeration or manipulation of the truth.
STEP FIVE: GO PUBLIC
In a Country with a Police force of impeccable integrity, it would then be appropriate to file a formal complaint with the Police. However given the clear evidence of Police brutality in Canada, and the tendency of the Police to cover up this brutality, it is recommended that this step be proceeded by further public exposure of the incident. Organize your media files into a folder and upload them to an Internet cloud service such as Google Drive. After you have uploaded your media files and witness statement, begin sharing them with the local and National media. Media contacts can be found at any media Website. Send them an organized email which includes your witness statement and media folder. Ask them to expose the incident as best they can. After you have done so you should start feeling more protected from the Police brutality you experienced or witnessed. At this stage you are no longer alone, but backed by the good people of your community.
STEP SIX: TAKE LEGAL ACTION
If someone has been intentionally assaulted they are eligible to receive compensation and restitution for their injuries. Taking legal action to prosecute the perpetrator is an essential step in obtaining justice. Not only will this provide recompense for the victim but it also stops the criminal from carrying out further such actions towards somebody else. There are many lawyers, who are committed to social change, and as such will help, often without compensation, in prosecuting the Police. A good example in British Columbia is the Pivot Legal Society. A quick telephone call to any lawyer is another way of finding out which organization, in your community, can help with legal aid, they will provide this information for FREE.
STEP SEVEN: GO PUBLIC WITH THE OUTCOME OF YOUR CASE
If you win your case ensure that you go public with the fact that you have won. This is a really important way to inspire other people to stand up for themselves, for others and to do what is right. It also breaks the normalization of Police brutality towards First Nations people. This final step, in combination with the six previously detailed will help ‘Stop Police Brutality’ towards First Nations people in Canada.
STEP EIGHT: CELEBRATE
Take a moment to celebrate your victory over injustice.