THUNDER BAY – Namaygoosisagagun, Eabametoong and Nibinamik First Nations supported by Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) are committed to moving forward with the Human Rights application seeking an investigation into the conduct of the Thunder Bay Police Services.

“Whether or not the police services board or the Thunder Bay mayor apologized for this unfortunate incident, the family and communities are still intent on moving forward with the application,” said Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. “We are also not scheduled to meet over this issue with either the mayor’s office or the police services board as they asserted in reports. It’s a shame that this incident took place in the first place but we must move forward and learn to work together to make this city safe and welcoming for everyone.”

First Nations Human Rights Complaint

The application is a result of a human rights violation that was committed by members of the Thunder Bay Police Service in their conduct during a police investigation into the murder of a First Nations individual in Thunder Bay earlier this month.

NAN wrote to Thunder Bay Police Chief Levesque today and advised that First Nations are pursuing their remedies with the Human Rights Tribunal and do not support pursuing this issue with the OIPRD (Office of the Independent Review Director) as the Police Services Act is not set up to conduct inquiries into issues of systemic racism.

“Regrettably, the public comments today of Police Board Member Mayor Keith Hobbs to the effect that this kind of ‘dark humour’ is ‘not about to change’ and is an acceptable part of policing simply confirm that influential leaders in Thunder Bay are not retracting or apologizing provides every justification for First Nations’ insistence that this proceed to a Human Rights Tribunal,” said Julian Falconer.