Violence toward RCMP not an indication of disintegrating relationship

Two violent incidences on First Nations less than a week apart involving the RCMP have raised concerns about the underlying issues of need that face many First Nations.
“We realize that the incidents of Oct. 4 are really a symptom of a much bigger problem.  We have to come to terms on how we come together as a community to address the issues behind the symptoms,” said Chief Ian McKay, of Red Earth First Nation.

In the early morning hours of Oct. 4, Carrot River RCMP responded to a call of shots fired on Red Earth First Nation. When they arrived at the scene, the two members were shot at and the front windshield of their vehicle was shattered. The officers returned fire and called for back-up. The SWAT team responded along with 10 other RCMP units. The RCMP engaged community members, including an Elder, in negotiations and the 10-hour standoff came to a peaceful end when four adult males, ages 18 and 19, were taken into custody.

On Sept. 30, in La Loche, the RCMP and health workers found themselves under siege when the hospital was attacked by 50 to 70 people. The incident came to a head when an injured ATV driver was taken from a crash scene, near two house parties, by an ambulance. The RCMP barricaded the hospital door and used pepper spray to keep the mob outside until back-up officers arrived and could disperse the crowd. An RCMP truck was set on fire and the ambulance was severely damaged. Three people were charged in the incident.
These occurrences, while happening close together, are not an indication of the relationship between the RCMP and First Nations, said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Russ Mirasty.

“I wouldn’t classify this as a trend across the province,” he said. Mirasty added that he believed the RCMP were targeted as a result of carrying out their duties, not because of malice the communities hold for the RCMP.

The trend that McKay sees is the living conditions on First Nations that are bringing the people down:  poverty, lack of jobs, poor education, poor health services, drug and alcohol abuse, and family upheaval. Community meetings that have been held since the October stand-off are part of the larger plan chief and council had already started to put in place, said McKay.

“The resolve and commitment was already there before the incident. We had been coming together to develop… a comprehensive community healing project,” he said. “We are still following up on things we need to do as a leadership to bring our community together. But we realize that we cannot do this alone.”

Mirasty said he sees the RCMP being part of the meetings that are taking place on Red Earth First Nation and part of the solution.

“These incidences cause the RCMP and community leaders to reflect on how best we address this situation and not only an immediate response, but as we look into the future how do we collectively and more collaboratively start to address those underlying issues that we know exist,”  said Mirasty.

Pulling the community into helping resolve the stand-off on Red Earth First Nation was a successful show of collaboration.

“We see in situations like this that as soon as the community is involved there seems to be a quicker resolution,” said Mirasty. It also breeds understanding with the community as to why the RCMP respond the way they do.

On Red Earth First Nation, Davis Demery Lester Whitehead, 19, was charged with attempted murder while using a firearm, intent to endanger a life by discharging a firearm, possession of a firearm while prohibited, and Breach of Probation. Further investigation resulted in no charges being laid against the other three people taken into custody when Whitehead was arrested. The investigation is ongoing.

In the La Loche incident, Deano LaPrise, 22, Fabian LaPrise, 27, and Randall LaPrise, 25, face a number of charges, including assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, arson and participating in a riot.

As well, Mirasty said, the RCMP are conducting an investigation into the handling of the incident in La Loche.

“We’re analyzing it from every possible angle to see whether or not we could have responded differently,” he said.

The process is ongoing and Mirasty would not comment on potential findings.