Deaths intensify push for parallel justice system

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An RCMP inquiry into the deaths of two Native men on the outskirts of Saskatoon last month has convinced Saskatchewan's justice minister that more must be done to bridge the growing chasm between First Nations people and the province's police and justice systems.

Justice Minister Chris Axworthy said it's clear that Native people have lost faith in the province's justice system and in law enforcement officials. He also hinted that the province will continue to meet with leaders from the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations to explore the likelihood of establishing a parallel Native justice system in the province.

Last week, Axworthy called on federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan to get involved in the delicate and potentially explosive issue of race relations in Saskatchewan.

"I would rule out absolutely nothing," Axworthy said, following a March 1 meeting with FSIN Chief Perry Bellegarde. "We cannot any longer accept the speed at which we have made progress. We have to move forward faster and I think that was one of the things that we came to agreement on today."

Relations between police and Saskatchewan's Native people suffered a huge setback last month when the bodies of two Native men, Rodney Naistus and Lawrence Wegner, were discovered frozen near a power plant on the outskirts of Saskatoon.

Shortly after the bodies were discovered, a third Native man, Darrell Night, complained that two Saskatoon police officers had picked him up in a police cruiser, driven him to the same spot and kicked him out of the car in sub-zero temperatures.

Night made it back to Saskatoon and later filed a formal complaint against the Saskatoon Police Service. Two veteran members of the police force, Ken Munson and Daniel Hatchen, have since been suspended.

In response to Night's allegations, an RCMP investigation has been launched to determine what role, if any, Saskatoon police officers played in the deaths of Wegner and Naistus.

The probe will also investigate the circumstances behind the suspicious deaths of three other Native men.

In 1990, 17-year-old Neil Stonechild was found frozen to death in an industrial area on the city's north end. Earlier this year, the bodies of Lloyd Joseph Dustyhorn and Darcy Dean Ironchild were discovered shortly after the two men had been released from police custody.

Dustyhorn's body was found frozen outside a west-end apartment building.

Ironchild was discovered dead in another apartment building. The mysterious deaths and the allegations of police involvement have prompted a massive public outcry for a full-scale, independent inquiry.

The allegations of police misconduct also led to a rash of phone calls from other Native residents who say they too were picked up by Saskatoon police officers, taken to the outskirts of Saskatoon and dumped off in sub-zero temperatures.

FSIN officials say they started receiving such calls almost immediately after Night's allegations came to light.

In Regina, police are investigating similar allegations, said Regina police spokesman Sgt. Dave Wyatt.

"We're taking this very seriously," Wyatt told the Regina Leader Post last month. "We want to clear these items up if they're happening out there."

Meanwhile, critics of the RCMP investigation in Saskatoon say an inquiry that allows one police force to investigate another lacks credibility.

In the past two weeks, two large demonstrations have taken place on the streets of Saskatoon demanding an impartial review.

Last week, Alberta Senator Thelma Chalifoux also entered the fray, suggesting the RCMP investigation would do nothing to restore Native people's faith in the police.

"Will this be an unbiased investigation?" Chalifoux asked. "In my opinion, there's strong suspicion."

Until recently, the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations had also been demanding that a full-scale, public inquiry be launched into the deaths of Naistus and Wegner. But last week, FSIN leaders softened their demands for an immediate publicinquiry.

After meeting with Axworthy on March 1, Chief Bellegarde said it would be unreasonable to expect that an independent inquiry would be launched while the RCMP investigation is still underway.

The FSIN still wants a public inquiry but it's willing to wait until the RCMP investigation is complete, Bellegarde said.

Bellegarde is now stressing the need for a parallel Native justice system in Saskatchewan, an option the province is apparently willing to consider.

On many previous occasions, Bellegarde has said he hopes to establish a parallel justice system for Saskatchewan Native people during his tenure as FSIN chief.

We're talking about "a parallel system, empowering our people to have that respect and recognition and jurisdiction over First Nations justice issues," Bellegarde said.

"Nothing is ruled out," added Axworthy. "One of the recommendations from our camp . . . is a parallel justice system and we'll be exploring every option including that one."

Axworthy said he would rule out absolutely nothing in the province's attempts to achieve better race relations.

Saskatoon Police Chief Dave Scott renewed his demand that the province provide better treatment facilities for people who are picked up by police and need detoxification.

Wegner had been on a drinking binge the night he was last seen alive in Saskatoon. Police officers were called to the city's downtown area after a man fitting Wegner's description was seen pounding on a door wearing a T-shirt.

Wegner's body was found Feb. 3 in a stubble field, clothed in jeans, a T-shirt and socks.