What will the RCMP do about racists in their ranks?
This is a story I’ve got first hand from my brother, Daniel, who lives on the Katzie First Nation reserve in Pitt Meadows, BC. It happened on the weekend.
He was home invaded. He fought back the half dozen attackers as best he could, but still ended up with a broken hand and broken nose. They also assaulted his girlfriend and my aunt Dee.
The RCMP arrived – Constables Wilson and Graham of the Ridge Meadows Detachment. According to the witnesses, they were immediately hostile. Daniel said that in the presence of those witnesses – including the aforementioned aunt Dee (who works on the band council, and is one of the elders of the Kwantlen band) they shouted ‘you’re a bunch of drunk Indians, get over it‘. They then threw my brother – the victim – into an ambulance with one of the home invaders. At the hospital, he said the police continued to insult and attack him, throwing him against a wall.
They eventually took him aside and threw him in hospital security. When he tried to press charges, he said they laughed at him, refused and said ‘you’re all family, you’ll be fine tomorrow‘.
If it were just my brother, I don’t think the band council would be doing anything – but now there are witnesses. So the band council is getting involved. But I’d love to see media on this.
This crap goes on every single day in this country. There are so many rotten RCMP detachments, so many crooked cops – this one in particular – they shouldn’t get off with a warning or some fake apology. Those mounties, and their boss need to face some kind of justice.
If you are in the press and want to write about this – please let me know and I’ll put you in touch with the people invovled.
UPDATE: Just got a call from Daniel. He met with the RCMP and said they called him and our aunt Dee liars. He also said he just got back from a meeting at the band office and there were 10 reporters out front.
I accidentally just deleted a heap of comments and can’t ‘undelete’ them. Sorry, I was trying to clear up another blog and didn’t realize I was logged into this one. My bad. Sorry.
Robert Jago
November 5, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Shoot. I was just wishing you and your family well. So, here I go again.
Dr.Dawg
November 6, 2008 at 5:34 pm
[...] leave a comment » I wrote a post a little while ago about the problems my brother had with the RCMP. You can read the summary of that here. In fact please do before reading on. [...]
In which an Indian rants about something or other « A dime a dozen political blog
November 20, 2008 at 11:38 pm
you would think its a bit better where indians have been around longer and are third gen and all. sad to hear really. someone should def do something. good luck with it.
Sin Grains
November 24, 2008 at 8:48 am
I am more disappointed in people every day it seems. I happened to state my opinion on your “In which an Indian rants about something or other…” post.
I must have hit the nail on the right head for this person did not comment on the “issue”. Instead called me the racist!
What you are going through is simply wrong and I am one who sees this. Perhaps, check out Knight99’s dumb comment to me.
I have no desire to answer with any intelligence as I think that was so lost as evidenced by his nasty post to me.
Good luck, persue what is just and right – always.
Crystal
December 4, 2008 at 2:03 am
The RCMP have an undisputed claim to the Greatest Canadian Disappointment of the Decade. I know plenty of “law abiding” very middle class white folks who’ve lost all respect for those hooligans. We even had one here in Parksville who turned out to be a ped. These people need a seismic attitude adjustment or a roadmap to the nearest unemployment office.
MoS
December 6, 2008 at 9:57 pm
What you say MoS is so true. It’s too bad that we as people cannot come together as one and give “all” the law abiding people proper Justice.
I can tell you that when I attended a college in a different country, the fire and police academy were on campus. Talk about “seeing” the truth!
While I knew several that truly were good citizens. I ended up in a court, alone, against an officer. For what he did to me, he got ‘demoted’ when in actuality he should have rec’d justice. Then, when others came forward, justice came when we were a group. However, I wonder if it would have been different here?
I truly feel for what others go through, especially if it’s cruel and it is. Then, the cruelty continues as “no justice” is to be seen.
Honestly, it’s disappointing to read the accounts here and I feel for R. Jago. Keep fighting, for it is a sad situation and there must be change. I hope that you are successful…
Crystal
December 7, 2008 at 4:20 am
Hello everyone its such a sad thing to hear there are many first nations as myself who want to become rcmp officers to help our people. But the there so called system wont let us in for years because of are back ground me and my cousin both female tried to persue our dream but all they did was shot us down. We need more orgainizations to help our people trough these time’s.I think that they are for sure racist they always have been and wont accept the fact that first nation people are some day going make it whether they like it or not.
Im from the interior a reserve called anaham and there are many racist cops out here one pushed my cousin down hard onto the ground were there were rocks. And some even talk about our people on air radio we all have scanners and hear they making remard about us.
Who does the deciding i think they should check there background more carefully instead of ours they want more native rcmp memebers the why shot them down when they want to help its ridicalas.
They think they can understand us our people but they havent lived our life they will never understand nor respect us i hope one day i can help our people and become an rcmp officer to help everyone everywhere.
i read on a news clip a 16 year old girl was tasered by the rcmp in the groin and the legs its just sick how come they are still working and why can they get way with this if it was a white girl they would be all over it and the cops would be in jail..
i’ve learned that when you become an officer you must be there for the people everyone and help them in anyway you can thats what they are there for for the people they aint no better than us.
thank you for your time
belle
bell
December 14, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Belle,
Though I am not of First Nations, I do believe that it’s unfair and unjust. To be treated the way you have been, as others have been…there is, to me, no excuse. It truly saddens me.
If nobody gives anybody a chance, how do they expect a realistic change in all lives? I have never lived your life and yet I do have respect for you. I do not personally know you, but I feel for you.
It might sound strange, but it’s just the way that I am. I have other native american friends, and I find the road they travel to be so much better than what let’s say I, have learned in society in general.
I respect all life, wildlife and people.Many ordinary people do not get this simple concept. They are on this board, calling me a racist. I find it to be rubbish.
I think when we have to give up on a dream, that we were never allowed to start…is sad. I think that yes, why not First Nations Peoples in the RCMP?
I don’t make comparisons usually, but I have to agree that if the situation were reversed, all others would then respect your lives and you as human beings. But I know not all share my views.
Besides, from what I’ve seen…where is the justice now? I don’t see it anywhere…and I most certainly do not see it in First Nations.How many First Nations Peoples are actually involved with the Olympics?
Others will argue that I am one-sided. I’ve been accused of being racist to “white” people”…it’s really funny actually. That out of all of this information on the board and on the other page, that one would single me out. I don’t care what this person or anyone thinks for I know who and what I am on the inside.
For me, I hope the next time this ‘person’ dares to punish me for my opinion – I will be ready. I do not respect anyone who would hurt any animal…just to get a a person for their beliefs. I know, as it’s happened to me twice now.
With this instance, I got little help. However, it will not deter me. I did not get justice, but I will.
Nothing will change my mind and nobody will ever stop me from giving support to whom I choose. I will not back down to please someone else.
Perhaps you may come back, I’d love to have more chats with you.
Crystal
December 24, 2008 at 2:22 am