Smudge was offered in the convention hall as mothers who’ve lost their children in violent police interactions wept telling their stories to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the AFN special chiefs assembly in Ottawa.
The crowd stood in respect for the women as they spoke while repeated cries of “shame” could be heard throughout the room.
The grief over losing her son Jon Wells is still fresh for the Blood Tribe’s Edith Wells. The 42 year old respected community member died after he was tackled, punched and Tasered by officers at a Calgary hotel, according to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team report on the incident.
“They murdered my boy, they killed my son,” Wells said, before being helped out of the room.
Martha Martin, mother of Chantel Moore, who was shot and killed by an officer in 2020 in New Brunswick told Trudeau the violence has to end. Moore’s death drew national attention and widespread condemnation. The officer involved was never charged and the family filed a civil suit in 2023. Moore cried as she spoke of all the mothers across Canada who are grieving.
“Mothers are tired of burying their children,” Martin said as she called for national reform of policing.
Chiefs passed a resolution Wednesday in favour of an inquiry into systemic racism in policing. AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak called deaths of Indigenous people in connection to policing a human rights issue.
The resolution came after a number of deadly incidents between Aug. 29 and Sept. 24 left nine First Nations people dead during or after interactions with police. As of the publishing of this article, that number sits at 13.
Trudeau did not comment on the resolution or make a commitment to calling an inquiry. He told the mothers “the violence needs to stop” and he would continue to consult with them.
“I’m also committed to doing everything in my power as a government to try to fix this, to try and change and address the systemic discrimination, the built-in colonialist racism that continues to exist in our systems,” Trudeau said as the mother’s sobs could still be heard.
Earlier in the morning session, chiefs took the prime minister and his government to task over lack of consultation and eroding First Nations right to self-determination. Chiefs began lining up to speak before Trudeau had even finished his speech.
Chief Regena Crowchild of Tsuutina First Nation near Calgary drew applause and cheers when she told the prime minister in order to achieve reconciliation, he needs a relationship with First Nations who are party to the treaties, not the AFN or Canada.
“If you look at the different genocidal tactics you’ve used all these years, our peoples have suffered because of that,” Crowchild said. “I don’t need to repeat what Canada did to us. Our people have suffered and are living in poverty on this great land the Creator gave us. Our people should be prospering.”
David Monias of Pimicikamak First Nation in Manitoba told the Prime Minister he had to honour and respect sovereign and treaty rights.
“Not just in words and promises, but in terms of action, because we do want action from you guys to make sure you recognize our sovereignty and recognition that the treaties are just a relationship document,”Monias said.
Brenda Frog, a nurse at Pimicikamak followed up, telling Trudeau his government needed to overhaul health programs on First Nations.
“You need to do a complete review on the health care service delivery in our First Nation communities,” Frog said.
“You have a high turnover of your Indigenous Services Canada nurses. They need better support. You need to do better to support your frontline workers.”
Earlier in the day, Indigenous Services Minister, Patty Hajdu touted government investments in communities, particularly around water.
“You know the Prime Minister made an ambitious commitment to lift all long term drinking water advisories across the country,” Hajdu said.
“When we were elected there were 145, we have managed to prevent and lift almost all of them. We have 29 left.”
The chief of Neskantaga, the community with the longest record of water issues in Canada, told Trudeau that infrastructure must be a priority with the federal government.
The chiefs heard from NDP leader Jagmeet Singh first thing Thursday morning. He took the opportunity to take jabs at the Liberals and Conservatives. The Bloc Quebecois addressed the assembly for the first time with leader Yves Blanchette taking criticism from a number of Quebec chiefs.
