Premier Moe acknowledges ‘pain felt by the Boushie family’

As rallies were being held across Canada following the acquittal of Gerald Stanley in the shooting death of 22-year-old Colten Boushie, Premier Scott Moe said it is “now more important than ever” that Saskatchewan residents show patience, consideration and understanding for one another.

Boushie, a 22-year-old Cree man from Red Pheasant First Nation, was fatally shot on Aug. 9, 2016, on Stanley’s farm in the RM of Glenside. The seven-woman, five-man jury delivered their not-guilty verdict Friday evening after they had been given the options of finding Stanley guilty of second-degree murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty of any crime.

Moe acknowledged “the pain felt by the Boushie family and all First Nations communities due to the tragic death of Colten Boushie and I understand their deep disappointment following yesterday’s decision.”

Moe said Saturday he has talked with Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron and Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand, and he has “heard the many concerns that arise from this trial.

“I am listening, our government is listening, and it is important that we continue to listen to the many voices involved in this discussion.”

Following the acquittal of Stanley, there were immediate calls from supporters of Colten Boushie for an examination of how the case unfolded. In a news release, the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs, who represent seven First Nations in the Battleford area, said they were “deeply disturbed” by the verdict and called for “an immediate inquiry examining a number of injustices during this trial including problems with jury selection, the prosecution and trial processes.”