Shooting video ‘sheds light on the RCMP’s actions’: Keewatin Tribal Council leader

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This article was published 27/10/2021 (1677 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Questions about use of force and calls for enhanced training for officers working with Indigenous communities have arisen in the wake of a social media video of an RCMP shooting.

Eric Redhead, chief of Shamattawa First Nation and chairman of the Keewatin Tribal Council, described the footage of a Thompson RCMP officer shooting a 30-year-old First Nations man Monday in the northern city as “very disturbing.”

The man, who is a member of a Keewatin Tribal Council community, was in stable condition at Thompson General Hospital as of Tuesday afternoon.

“I’m thankful it was caught on camera because it sheds light on the RCMP’s actions and how they interact with Indigenous people,” Redhead said by phone from Shamattawa, about 740 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

“I think the only reason we’re talking about it today was because it was actually caught on camera and incidents like this and similar incidents occur on a daily basis between Indigenous people and the RCMP.”

Manitoba RCMP said at around 2:45 p.m. Monday, an officer was on Princeton Drive, a residential area near Wapanohk Community School, to serve legal documents when he encountered a man armed with a knife.

Bystander video of the interaction shows the man walking on a grassy yard towards the officer who continues to back up toward the street. As the man continues to approach, the officer raises his weapon and fires one shot at close range.

Redhead said after reviewing the bystander video multiple times, it was unclear to him whether the man was indeed wielding a knife. However, he said the video shows the officer had options to de-escalate the situation.

“The response used potential lethal force,” Redhead said. “The RCMP are trained in a number of other deterrents when approached by a suspect. They have other weapons at their disposal. They have Tasers, they have spray, they have batons.

“I question the RCMP’s actions, because if the guy did have a knife, the RCMP could have just took more steps back and waited,” Redhead continued. “I know that he was approaching him but he could have maintained a safe distance until others arrived.”

On Tuesday, the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba confirmed it is investigating. Witnesses or other people who have information that could assist the investigation can contact the IIU toll-free at 1-844-667-6060.

RCMP spokesman Sgt. Paul Manaigre said the officer who fired the shot remains on active duty.

“Even though he was not physically injured, he is being provided all the available supports during this difficult time,” Manaigre said in an emailed statement to the Free Press.

Redhead said he’d like to see Mounties receive culturally sensitive training to respond to mental health and addictions crises and issues affecting members of northern First Nations.

“The RCMP are vital to the North and protecting our members, but at the same time there are bad apples,” the tribal council chairman said, emphasizing he was speaking in general terms and not about the officer involved.

“I think training coming from Indigenous organizations would be vital,” he continued. “That’s key in moving forward with reconciliation between the RCMP and First Nations.”

Redhead said he doesn’t expect the IIU investigation to result in repercussions for the officer involved. He has requested a meeting with Thompson RCMP and the D Division commanding officer.

“As chiefs, we hear of not so violent but similar incidents where officers use excessive force. This is an ongoing issue in a lot of communities in the North,” Redhead said.

“It was a matter of time before something like this rolled out.”

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca