This week, much like last, has been filled with a rising focus on police violence experienced by Black and Indigenous Peoples in so-called Canada.
Worth your time
- Senator Murray Sinclair says police officers need to be properly trained in de-escalation as well as screened for racism. This is following a string of deaths at the hands of police this year in Canada.
- Emilee Gilpin, reporting for First Nations Forward, held a Facebook live conversation with Candis Callison, an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Journalism and in the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies. They talk about the shift in journalism, particularly for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour.
- Despite not having a provincial license and being raided, the owner of Tupa’s Joint, a cannabis dispensary and wellness centre in downtown Vernon, B.C., says they are staying open. What makes this story interesting is that owner Cory Brewer is pointing to B.C.’s UNDRIP legislation to be able to economically gain from his traditional territory, which is off-reserve.
News of the week
- Grand Chief Stewart Phillip shares with Global News Okanagan that he is grateful for the outpouring of support following his open plea for a kidney donor. To find out if you could be a match check out this website.
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says “he has serious questions” regarding the arrest of Chief Allan Adam of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in Alberta who was left bloodied and bruised from being arrested. Video of the incident was recently released by CBC.
- B.C.’s provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry renews her call to decriminalize the use of illicit drugs in response to the 170 overdose-related deaths in May 2020. This number is the highest monthly number in the province’s history.
- Canada’s Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller says that Brenda Lucki, the RCMP Commissioner, needs to be accountable for the promise she made regarding proper policing when it comes to Indigenous communities. This week, Lucki said in an interview she didn’t understand what systemic racism was, Senator Murray Sinclair shared on Facebook: “If Commissioner Lucki believes this, then she does not understand what systemic discrimination is…get rid of the racists and you will still have a racist system.”
- Benjamin Manual, a Dene man from Yellowknife demands answers after he was assaulted by RCMP, left with boot marks on his face he adds that it’s harder to avoid police brutality when he sleeps in a tent. Manuel said there were three police officers present at the time of the assault. “They un-handcuffed me and left me on the road unconscious. They didn’t even call ambulance or nothing,” he said. APTN Reports that Yellowknife RCMP have not responded for comment.
- Rodney Levi, a Mi’kmaw man was shot and killed by New Brunswick RCMP, this comes on the heels of several police-related deaths across the country.
Okanagan latest
- Castanet reports that since the Black Lives Matter marches have increased so have the amount of confederate flags through the Okanagan Valley.
- Sqilxw Apna awarded BC Arts Council Youth Arts Engagement to produce Land-based Poetics at N’sis ooloxw, Westside road. The press release shares more about this initiative: “When learning how to take care of ourselves, we teach the next generation what is valuable. At N’sisooloxw what we do to care for the land reflects how the young people will better care for themselves and the world around them”, †states Mariel Belanger, a co-founder of Sqilxw Apna.
- The Okangan Nation Alliance shares some of the highlights from the Syilx Nation Unity Run in a video. In total the Nation walked 538.5 kms together and 1711.2Kms individually.
- Westbank First Nation is excited to announce that the Siya Celebration is on this year! The capacity of how many folks can attend is limited but they will be offering the viewing online through a Facebook Live stream on the WFN Members page.
That’s it for this week, if you have news or information that you want to share, email me: [email protected]
