Indigenous leaders call for clarity, probe into RCMP shootings
Indigenous leaders are calling for an investigation into the conduct of Mounties on Vancouver Island after two members of a small First Nation were shot by police in the last three months.
A Tla-o-qui-aht woman was badly injured after being shot multiple times Saturday when police responded to a report of a disturbance at a home in the community of Port Albion on the Island's west coast.
The shooting follows the death of Julian Jones, a 28-year-old Tla-o-qui-aht man, who was shot and killed by RCMP officers on Meares Island in late February.
Judy Wilson, secretary-treasurer of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, said the conduct of RCMP detachments in the communities of Tofino and Ucluelet needs to be investigated after the most recent shooting.
“This tragedy, this trauma, it will stay with the family and the children for generations to come,” she said.
She said the victim is a mother of two and suffered gunshot injuries to her spine, leaving questions about her future quality of life.
“There should be a review. How are they handling these calls to the community?” Wilson said.
The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation is a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth tribal council.
Tribal council president Judith Sayers said her members have been left with a lot of questions and few answers from police.
“Can you imagine having had your daughter, or your brother, or someone you know shot and you don't know why? You don't know what the circumstances were until an investigation is complete,” she said. “There's got to be more details provided and I'm sure that can be done without impugning the investigation.”
Sayers said police forces across Canada need to re-evaluate their use-of-force protocols and training, particularly when it comes to working with Indigenous or other communities they may have little experience with.
The president of the Ucluelet First Nation said in a statement Tuesday that the victim was the subject of a stayaway order and there had been community concerns about her and the man she was with.
The statement from Charles McCarthy said there was an altercation between a Ucluelet man and the woman, and RCMP were called on Saturday night.
“When police arrived on scene, the female was in possession of what was visually a weapon. RCMP opened fire, wounding the female,” McCarthy said. “The weapon has been officially reported by the (IIO) Independent Investigations Office of B.C. as a replica gun.”
The office is B.C.'s police watchdog and investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm. It's investigating both police shootings.