Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc.
For immediate release
April 16, 2023
Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief calls for Independent Investigation Unit Investigation following gun pulling incident on Pimicikamak Cree Nation
Treaty One Territory Winnipeg, MB – Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias is calling for a public apology from the Manitoba RCMP following a serious incident Friday night where a constable unholstered his sidearm and pointed it at a group of young girls on the First Nation.
“I am demanding an apology and an investigation by the Independent Investigation Unit as the result of this,” said Chief Monias. “The girls were traumatized and obviously we feel there was no imminent threat to the officer that would have warranted drawing his firearm, let alone point it at a group of girls.”
“I have an obligation to protect the well being of our community members as Chief and I am very angry right now. We have had issues with the quality of policing we are subject to, from RCMP not responding to calls to outright disregard for the lives of band members.”
Monias says the incident is the latest of a number of issues his community has had with the RCMP at Cross Lake. “We have outsiders coming into Pimicikamak who are dealing drugs and there has been zero enforcement from them. We had a recent incident where a woman called for assistance as there was a man present and RCMP refused to attend. The response from the member was “I don’t care” when she told them she would call the Chief,” said Monias.
MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee is supporting Pimicikamak in their call for an independent investigation.
“We received information that an RCMP member pointed his gun at three girls on the First Nation over the weekend,” said Grand Chief Garrison. “This concerns me greatly as anytime a firearm is brandished there is an increased risk of loss of life. For that reason I am calling for an investigation of the incident by an independent party. The IIU exists for that purpose.”
MKO has responded by dispatching workers from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Unit to provide counselling and supports to the girls.
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For more information:
Philip Paul-Martin, Communications Officer
Phone: 204-612-1284
Email: [email protected]
