Okanagan: We want to hear about your experiences with police

IndigiNews is open to listening to your stories, either positive or negative.

George Floyd was killed while being arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota, sparking rallies and protests around the world. More recently in Canada, Chantel Moore, a Tla-o-qui-aht woman was shot to death during a wellness check by a police officer in Edmunston, N.B., and Alberta’s police watchdog is investigating after Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam says he was beaten by RCMP

This is raising questions about racial profiling, racism, and police violence particularly against Indigenous and Black people in Canada.

Indigenous Service Minister Marc Miller addressed this in a recent press conference,

Canada needs a reckoning because there is a pattern of police violence against First Nations, Metis and Inuit people that continues to repeat itself,” he says.

“Frankly along with many Canadians, Indigenous Peoples living in Canada, politicians in Canada, I’m pissed, I’m outraged. There needs to be a full accounting of what has gone on. This is a pattern that keeps repeating itself.”

We want to reach out to people living in the Okanagan to find out about your experience been with police. That’s why we’ve created this secure form for you to fill out.

We will not publish your name or information without following up with you to discuss the information that you’ve provided. If you’d prefer to get in touch with a reporter directly, email chehala@indiginews.com.

  • The more details you can provide the better: what documents if any do you have, who was involved, dates, etc.

You can learn more about the intentions behind our journalism by reading the IndigiNews Intentions here

Author


ᐋᐧᐸᓇᒐᐦᑯᐢᐃᐢᑫᐧᐤ Chehala Leonard

We live in a media ecosystem that thrives on misinformation. Big Tech and AI companies are consuming the work of real human beings and Canadian news has been banned on Facebook and Instagram.

Eden Fineday

And yet, I have hope for journalism because of the work we’re doing at IndigiNews.

At IndigiNews, we embody tâpwêwin — the Cree value of integrity and responsibility in truth-telling. We are committed to our independent, Indigenous-led newsroom rooted in community, accountability, and relationality. We believe storytelling is a sacred fire that connects our pasts, presents, and futures through the storytellers in our Storytelling Lodge. IndigiNews creates space for Indigenous journalists, storytellers, Knowledge Keepers, and communities to gather, learn, and share stories that matter.

As a registered charity, we are building a fire that allows our work not just to ignite but to thrive. Rather than relying on advertising or corporate acquisition, IndigiNews is sustained by people like you who believe Indigenous stories are important for the future of our communities.

Your support is making a real difference.

Our community of supporters, our Firekeepers, make it possible to grow our newsroom, publish award-winning journalism, train emerging Indigenous journalists through initiatives like the ReFocus Photojournalism Fellowship, and publish trustworthy stories that serve our communities across the country. Every story we publish helps fill in gaps left by mainstream media and ensures Indigenous perspectives are represented with care, accuracy and respect.

But there is still more work to do.

As the media landscape becomes more and more uncertain, community support is as necessary and essential as it’s ever been. Every new Firekeeper helps protect the independence of our newsroom and strengthens journalism that is accountable to our many and varied communities over corporations.

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If you believe Indigenous stories matter, if you value independent journalism, and if you want to help build a strong future for Indigenous media, we invite you to join our circle of Firekeepers today.

Together, we can keep the fire burning.

— Eden Fineday, Publisher, IndigiNews

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