Police-Related Deaths Discussed At FSIN Assembly

Police-Related Deaths Discussed At FSIN Assembly

Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 13:43

 

 

A vice-chief with the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations has renewed his call for a public inquiry into the deaths of First Nations people due to police intervention.

 

Morley Watson was speaking at this morning’s session of the FSIN winter legislative assembly at the Whitecap Dakota First Nation.

 

Watson says six First Nations people have died this way in the past year.

 

The most recent incident was last month when a Canoe Lake teen escaped RCMP custody and froze to death in Beauval.

 

At the last FSIN assembly in October, the chiefs passed a resolution asking the provincial government to call a public inquiry, which it rejected.

 

Watson says he attended a provincial cabinet meeting a month ago to renew that request, and again it was refused.

 

He says the premier instead asked for solutions that could be implemented.

 

Watson says the chiefs have a moral obligation to continue to push for the public inquiry.

 

The vice-chief will be meeting with Justice Minister Don Morgan in March, and hopes the assembly will provide him with suggestions as he continues to push the province for the inquiry.

 

Watson says it’s not enough to have police investigating themselves.