Montreal vigil honours lives of Indigenous people killed in RCMP incidents

Since the end of August, six Indigenous people across Canada have lost their lives in events involving the RCMP – in just 11 days.

On Wednesday night, a vigil was held in downtown Montreal, to honour their lives and highlight the urgency to put a stop to the violence.

“I really want awareness. I want the RCMP to know that it’s not open season on Indigenous people, that they need to stop doing this. I want the families of those that were murdered to know that, Montreal, we hear you, we see you, we’re here for you. And I want the community to come and to mourn,” said Na’kuset, executive director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal.

On Aug. 29, 31-year-old Jack Charles Piche from Clearwater River Dene Nation in Saskatchewan was walking on the 909 grid road off Highway 155 near Buffalo Narrows, when he was hit by an RCMP vehicle.

Since that incident occurred, five other tragedies have followed.

Other victims include 15-year-old Hoss Lightning from Samson Cree First Nation in Alberta, 39-year-old Tammy Bateman, 57-year-old Jason West, 31-year old Danny Knife, and Steven “Iggy” Dedam from Elsipotog First Nation in New Brunswick.

Tragedies like this are shedding a light on the injustices faced by Indigenous communities.

“We’re tired, but we have to find the strength to come, and when we see injustice, to say it and to bring awareness that this is completely inappropriate; it needs to stop immediately,” said Na’kuset.

Earlier this week an emergency debate was held on Parliament Hill about this.

“I’m glad to see Indigenous leaders bring this to the House of Commons, but it also needs to happen on every level, every government. People should know that this is going on, and it needs to stop,” said Na’kuset.

The vigil also asked other communities in the BIPOC community to stand in solidarity with them.

“Their lives have value, that their lives were not supposed to end the way that they ended, that, you know, there’s not enough value appropriated to these communities, because if there were more value, they would be dealt with more care,” said Svens Telemanque, a representative from the Black community.

As the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaches on September 30, as well as the 10th anniversary of the release of the findings from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), activists and community leaders say change is urgently needed. 

“How can we be coming to the 10th anniversary and this be normal? This is normalized, that we shoot Indigenous people and it’s okay, and people don’t know about it. If you don’t know about it, then you can’t do anything about it. If you don’t know about it and no one’s complaining to the RCMP, they’re like, ‘Hey, I guess it’s okay.’ It’s not okay. So, I think we’re way behind in progress for the TRCs, and Canada needs to step up,” expressed Na’kuset.