Indigenous man, granddaughter settle with BMO over status card arrest
Standing amid the noise of traffic and hustle of pedestrians on the same Vancouver sidewalk where he was arrested and handcuffed in December 2019, Maxwell Johnson said he finally feels at peace.
The Indigenous man and his minor granddaughter were arrested as they tried to open an account for her at the Bank of Montreal in December 2019.
Police were called over the suspicion they were using a fake status card.
On Thursday, Johnson announced he and his granddaughter had settled their human rights complaint with the bank. The agreement includes an undisclosed a monetary payment from BMO, a private apology, and a pledge from the financial institution to update
I just want people to educate themselves more about First Nations issues and our culture.
MAXWELL JOHNSON HEILTSUK FIRST NATION
its policies on how Indigenous status cards are handled.
Holding a grey and white eagle feather that represents healing and blessing, Johnson said his Heiltsuk First Nation culture is about forgiveness.
“We don’t hold onto anything. We don’t hold any grudges,” he said. “I just want people to educate themselves more about First Nations issues and our culture.”