Rally protests ruling in Sask. shooting case
A demand for change to the federal justice system and a proclamation of fear for his life as a young Indigenous man were declared during a rally, which took place on Family Day on the steps of the Prince George Courthouse Monday afternoon.
The event saw about 100 people in attendance to support a demand for Justice For Colten Boushie, a 22-year-old Red Pheasant Cree Nation man in Saskatchewan who was shot and killed by a farmer in 2016.
The farmer, Gerald Stanley, who stood trial for second degree murder in the shooting death of Boushie, was acquitted of that charge by an all-white jury on Friday.
A bunch of friends who are students at UNBC were gathered together Friday when they heard the news of the verdict and decided to hold a rally in honour of the late Colten Boushie, said one of the organizers, Kasandra Johnny Turbide.
“We needed to respond with a call for action because we know that Prince George is not immune from this type of systemic injustice,” Johnny Turbide said. “We thought it was really important for us to rally in support of the Boushie family.”
Several people spoke during the hourlong rally including Reginald Mueller, Carrier Sekani tribal council chief, Terry Teegee, regional chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations, Kim Gouchie, respected member of the Northern B.C. first nations community, along with Sara-Lynn Harding, a concerned mother and a young first nations man, Nipawi Kakinoosit.
Mueller was the first to speak during the rally and set a serious tone with his heartfelt words.
“Across Canada we have a lot of people demonstrating to show their support,” said Mueller. “First off we’d like to offer our sincere condolences to the family of Colten Boushie. No matter how you look at the whole situation surrounding what happened on that fateful night there was a young life taken and Colten is no longer with his family. Nothing we say or do will bring him back.”
Each speaker was in agreement that first nations people across the nation need to stand in solidarity to demand changes to the federal justice system.
“If Colten’s death brings a spotlight to the systematic racism against First Nations in the Canadian justice system and this attention will bring about positive changes in the system then his death was not totally in vain,” said Mueller to the quiet crowd, some weeping quietly, while others were hugging each other or standing arm-in-arm to offer each other comfort.
“As a young Indigenous man, I am scared right now,” said Kakinoosit during the rally.
“Through this we’re seeing there seems to be a target on our backs as young Indigenous men and young Indigenous people in general and that’s scary.”
Filled with much emotion, Harding took to the top of the steps of the courthouse to speak.
“I’m a mother and a wife and when
I heard the scream of Debbie Baptiste (Colten’s mother) when she heard the not guilty verdict my heart broke,” Harding said. “We have to move forward from here and it cannot be from a place of hate, it cannot be from a place of anger. It’s OK to be frustrated and it’s OK to be afraid but it’s not OK for us to give up. It’s not OK for us to disappear. Our children matter and Colten matters. It is enough. And my words are specifically to Debbie. I heard you. You said it’s enough and it is enough. Our children are disappearing and our elders are alone and it’s time now for the students across this country. You have to finish your degrees, you have to finish your programs and your trades. We cannot count on others to do this work for us. We must claim space in the legislature, in parliament. We must do this.”
Harding went on to say the First Nations people are not the people they once were.
“We have rights and we are Canadian citizens,” she added.
“Colten was a Canadian citizen and justice was not served for him, for his family. So as a mother, as a student and as a citizen of this country I demand reform.”
Harding asked everyone to say a prayer for Colten’s mother, Debbie, and to make change together in the future.
To conclude the rally, several members of the first nations community came together to perform songs, accompanied by drums, to honour the mother, to honour the sons, and to help the healing begin.