Kevin Rollason (Winnipeg Free Press) – The chief of the Manto Sipi Cree Nation and other northern aboriginal organizations are calling for an independent investigation into a RCMP shooting of an aboriginal man.
Terrence Yellowback, 27, was wounded after a confrontation on the reserve with an RCMP officer on April 5. RCMP had been called to investigate an assault.
Band chief Roger Ross, joined by Grand Chief Sydney Garrioch of the Manitoba Keewatinook Ininew Okimowin and Grand Chief Arnold Ouskan of the Keewatin Tribal Council, called on Manitoba Justice Minister Dave Chomiak to order an independent investigation of an incident after Yellowback was shot with a gun and then, apparently, zapped with a Taser.
At a press conference today, Ross called on Chomiak to allow a member of the aboriginal community to be part of the investigation.
Ross said they want to know why RCMP kept band leadership and the man’s family in the dark on the incident for several hours, instead of following a protocol RCMP signed last year which would see native officials informed right away.
RCMP have said a man was refusing to drop a weapon when he was shot. The man was treated and released for his wounds.
Manto Sipi Cree Nation is about 850 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.
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