‘We need to bring about change;’ Boushie family reacts to report on RCMP investigation

Two days after a report on the RCMP investigation and officer conduct during the Colten Boushie investigation was released, members of Boushie’s family held a media conference to discuss the findings.

The family was joined Monday by representatives of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), lawyers and Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Chief Perry Bellegarde at the media conference at Dakota Dunes Resort and Casino.

Colten Boushie died in August 2016 when the SUV he was riding in drove onto farmer Gerald Stanley’s property near Biggar. Boushie was shot and killed during the incident.

A jury acquitted Stanley after he testified he had fired warning shots and the gun “just went off.”

Concerns had been raised about how police handled the investigation into Boushie’s death and the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) studied the case.

It outlined several missteps by police, saying officers treated Boushie’s mother, Debbie Baptiste, so insensitively when they notified her of her son’s death that it amounted to discrimination.

During Monday’s news conference on the Whitecap First Nation south of Saskatoon, Baptiste said the 4 1/2-year wait for the report made her feel like she was being “swept under the carpet.”

“We were never going to get justice. When were we going to be heard? That’s how it felt,” she said. “(It) felt like I was forever fighting a battle that could never be won.”

Baptiste, along with lawyers Eleanor Sunchild and Chris Murphy, and First Nations leaders called for immediate and long-term change within the RCMP.

Bellegarde said the report clearly outlined the racism and discrimination Baptiste endured during the RCMP investigation.

“In this report there are so many mistakes that the RCMP have made, so many things they have done wrong in this investigation,” he said.

“We need to bring about change. That’s what this speaks to, and building a better relationship between the RCMP and First Nations people whether they live on reserve or off reserve,” he added. “All these officers are sworn to protect and serve. That includes First Nations peoples.”

The Saskatchewan RCMP issued a statement indicating its commitment to implementing recommendations in the CRCC report.

“We have implemented 16 of the 17 recommendations that fall within the authority of the Saskatchewan RCMP and we are on track to complete the remaining recommendation by April 1, 2021 which is when all Saskatchewan RCMP employees will have successfully completed the Cultural Awareness and Humility course,” said Chief Supt. Alfredo Bangloy, the Saskatchewan RCMP’s acting commanding officer.

However, the union representing RCMP officers has been much more critical.

650 CKOM requested an interview with a spokesperson from the National Police Federation (NPF), but was denied. Media relations manager Fabrice de Dongo said a statement issued about the findings in the report would stand on its own.

According to NPF president Brian Sauve: “On several key findings, the CRCC report dismisses or outright ignores central facts and evidence. As a result, in many instances, it advances a perspective that disrespects our Members and brings their impartiality, dedication and professionalism into question.

“We also question the CRCC’s expertise and methodology used to develop such a definitive finding on the subject of discrimination. This is typically reserved for a Human Rights Tribunal which falls outside of the CRCC’s scope,” he added.

Murphy expressed concern not only with the RCMP’s response — saying it took the organization 14 months to respond to the CRCC’s first report — but the response of the NPF as well.

“This is how RCMP members believe you show compassion and respect to an Indigenous woman who has just lost her son,” he said.

FSIN Vice-Chief Heather Bear said as a mother and grandmother, she couldn’t imagine the grief Baptiste went through.

“No mother, First Nations or otherwise, should have to hear the devastating news that their beloved child has been killed or has died, let alone in the manner that Debbie Baptiste learned of her son’s death,” Bear said.

FSIN Chief Robert Cameron gave a heated speech a short time later, calling out Stanley and calling the Boushie trial a “disgusting, despicable thing to see.”

“What a bunch of horsesh**,” he added. “This whole justice system from the top down needs to be restored.”

Sunchild thanked the CRCC for writing its report.

“We thank them for interviewing all the witnesses. We thank them for doing a diligent job, even though the RCMP destroyed some communications that day Colten was killed,” she said.