A small group of mostly First Nations members gathered in front of the Port Alberni RCMP station on Tuesday, May 23 to mark the 150th anniversary of the RCMP in Canada and to highlight the impasse between the police institution and Indigenous communities.
“It was all about moving things forward and working together in a positive way,” said Sukhdev Krishan, who says he pulled together people for the event. There was no “protest” and it was not a negative gathering, Krishan said.
“It was a platform for people’s voices to be heard.”
Tseshaht elected Chief Councillor Wahmeesh (Ken Watts) was on hand, as were elders who sang, drummed and shared stories on the steps of the detachment.
Port Alberni RCMP Officer in Charge Insp. Eric Rochette came out to speak with those gathered in front of the detachment. He acknowledged that education and interaction with Indigenous youth and adults is something Port Alberni’s RCMP are working on.
“I heard your story about being afraid of us,” he said. “That’s something that I’m really trying to push forward for our members and employees to make sure that we’re approachable and that you feel comfortable enough to come forward and tell us what’s going on.
“We’ll do the best we can to help.”
Rochette said local RCMP are participating in the conversation and are trying to ensure Indigenous people do not encounter a “judgmental environment, that you can come and tell your story and we’ll do the best (to) bring you justice.
“A day like today is a great day for us to look back at what we’ve done, learn from it and move forward.”
susie.quinn@albernivalleynews.com
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