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www.pgfreepress.com â– HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Report accuses RCMP of neglect, abuse DELYNDA PILON newsroom@pgfreepress.com
After conducting a study in communities ranging from Prince George to Prince Rupert involving 50 indigenous women and girls, Human Rights Watch has released a report accusing the RCMP of neglect and abuse. Meghan Rhoad, one of the people who conducted the study, said violence against women is systemic. Both she and Mavis Erickson, who acted as a liaison during the study, agreed fear permeated many of the conversations held between First Nations women and girls and members of Human Rights Watch. Interviewees were nervous, careful of their surroundings and needed constant reassurance no one would know they talked to them. “On one hand these women face violence in their communities, whether with a loved one or on the street, and on the other hand they face a police force that is neglectful or who mistreat them,� Rhoad said. She added that though the RCMP have asked that victims of alleged abuse by officers come forward, Humand Rights Watch will not disclose their identities. “It is up to them if they choose to come forward,� she said, adding the onus is not on the victim. “It is misdirection on the part of government and police to put the onus De Ly nd a PILON/ Fre e Pre s s back on the victim.� With a history from residential schools to the Judge Meghan Rhoad with Human Rights Watch, Mavis Erickson and Carrier-Sekani tribal chief, Terry Teegee, David Ramsay case, the issues between indigenous women were among those who discussed Human Rights Watch’s report on policing in northern B.C. and the police are generational. “There is very little that is new in this report,� she said. It has been 19 years since her sister’s body was found. An RCMP statement says they take the Human Rights “It’s either happened to them or to someone in their fami“There are no answers. It has taken a toll on our family Watch report very seriously. lies.� to sit and wait and wait for the police officers to do their In a written response to a series of questions posed by The report includes several recommendations to job,� she said. “Our hearts go out to other families. Some- Human Rights Watch in the fall of 2012, the RCMP emphaimprove the situation, however Carrier-Sekani tribal chief times they come to us and ask what they should do. Why? sized the seriousness of allegations of police misconduct Terry Teegee said there have been many such reports with The police should provide that service for them.� and that these allegations must be brought forward for recommendations, and few if any of those were ever acted “This is a bigger story in regards to the RCMP and their proper investigation. on. As an example he referred to the Highway of Tears conduct,� Teegee said. “There is something fundamen“We also explained that complaints could be made to symposium, which Erickson coordinated and Mary Tee- tally wrong with how the RCMP treat our people, our the RCMP directly, to the Commission of Public Comgee with Carrier-Sekani Family Services co-chaired. women.� plaints against the RCMP or to other independent investiNevertheless, he said they would keep drawing attenTeegee said the country needs an independent body gative bodies without fear of retaliation,� states a release tion to the issues between authorities and First Nations to monitor the RCMP, one with a larger mandate than issued by Janice Armstrong, chief superintendent, deputy females until something changes. the Independent Investigation Office which only looks at criminal operations officer. “Unfortunately, five months One thing Brenda Wilson, whose sister, Ramona, was incidents involving the police, on or off duty, and a death later and none of these allegations have been brought formurdered in 1994, wants is services put in place for fami- or serious injury. ward for investigation. It is impossible to deal with such lies undergoing that kind of trauma. He said there also needs to be a safe way for women public and serious complaints when we have no method When they first reported Ramona missing, the police to report abuse and crimes that have been perpetrated to determine who the victims or the accused are. disagreed and said she was likely a runaway. against them. “British Columbians know and have seen that police “We had no direction of where we should look or what Mary Teegee would like an independent organization officers are being held accountable for their actions and we should do,� she said. “We were totally lost in the pro- formed made up mostly of First Nations women so others are being charged and even dismissed for clearly breachcess of looking for my sister.� can feel safe coming forward. ing their authorities and our expectations.�
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