Elder raps police

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Native Canadians are prisoners in their own land, similar to the blacks in South Africa, said a Louis Bull band member during an elders meeting in Goodfish Lake last week.

Former Saskatchewan penitentiary inmate Alex Twinn told a visiting RCMP constable Indians in Alberta are suffering under the same apartheid rule that has oppressed the black-majority population in South Africa.

"Some issues here are minor compared to South Africa. But it all comes down to the same thing - the rich white man is bringing us down."

Twinn, who served 17 years in prison in the 1950s, said Natives have always been treated unfairly by the police and court systems. Jails are being filled with Native people and it's getting worse, he dais.

"But we have a chance to do something about it now."

He hopes the time he served in prison could be an inspiration for bands to pull together to stop discrimination and police brutality.

"I've been kicked around and institutionalized....they tried to rob me of my dignity. But I still held my head up. I'm a sensitive man and I love my people. I want to see them do something so others won't suffer like I did. They have to get together to do it."

Inspector Lloyd Hickman from the St. Paul RCMP office said there has to be co-operation between the RCMP and Native communities to keep discrimination from occurring.

"We want to open the lines of communication. I'm here to listen to your concerns and ideas and make our relationship better."

He said he's not familiar with anyone being falsely arrested or abused but if it happens in his jurisdiction, Native people will get satisfaction.

"We are here to assist people as well as enforce the law. I urge you to contact us if you're not convinced we are not doing our job at anytime. We'll look into it."

Hickman said his department has increased the number of calls officers are making to the Saddle Lake and Whitefish bands.

"If it's found our members did not act according to the law, they will be brought before the court the same as anyone else."

He encouraged band members to report police violations as well as other criminal activities.

Whitefish band elder Edith Memnook, 69, said she's not convinced the RCMP are sincere about their intentions to help the Native people in her band. If they were, she said, police would help to lessen the cases of child and women abuse on the reserve.

"We want action. There are lots of things I would like you to work with us on. It hurts my feelings when I se women hurt. You have to do something."

Hickman countered: "You have our word. If you want a policeman to speak at your school, you'll have it. If we're not on track, we'll deal with it. My ears are always open."