Elder Hart Perley is getting ready to make the trip from her home in Tobique First Nation to Madawaska First Nation where a sacred fire is burning for Chantel Moore, a 26 year old mother who was shot and killed by an Edmundston police officer Thursday.
Perley said she’s not surprised by the shooting.
“Was really not a shock to me personally because of the continuous mistreatments that we’ve endured throughout the decades by the RCMP as well as city or town cops has not changed,” said Perley.
According to the Edmundston police, officers received a call to do a “wellness check” on Moore, who is originally from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation in British Columbia.
Police say she confronted the officer on the scene with a knife.
Nora Moore, Chantel aunt doesn’t believe that’s what happened.
“Moore she was small in stature, like she was very slim, and we don’t believe it that she would do something like that,” Nora Moore said. “She was very kind, friendly, gentle, gentle natured person, she really loved her family.”
Police say Moore died at the scene.
Friday in Ottawa, Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said he was shocked when he heard the news.
“I don’t understand how someone dies during a wellness check,” Miller said. “When I first saw the report, I thought it was some morbid joke. And you look at it and you say, ‘Yes, there’ll be an independent investigation.’ But frankly along with many Canadians, Indigenous peoples living in Canada, politicians, I’m pissed. I’m outraged. There needs to be a full accounting of what has gone on. This is a pattern that keeps repeating itself.”
Quebec’s independent police review agency has been called in to investigate the shooting.
