Pubdate: Tue, 22 Jan 2013
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2013 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter
Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Authors: Aldo Santin, Bruce Owen and Nick Martin
Page: A3

WAVE OF FIRST NATIONS HOMICIDES SPURS GRAND CHIEF'S PLEA

A plague of drugs is fuelling deadly violence across northern
Manitoba, Manitoba Keewatinook Ininew Okimowin Grand Chief David
Harper said Monday.

"There's been a major wave of violence," Harper said in the wake of
six homicides in the first three weeks of the year. "These drugs now,
they're unforgiving.

"That's one of the biggest things -- people under the influence.
Normal everyday people who are sober don't try to harm people."

The latest victim was 19-year-old Austin Monias of Cross Lake, who
died early Sunday morning from injuries he sustained at a house party
in the northern community. Monias was the nephew of elder Raymond
Robinson, who is fasting in support of Attawapiskat First Nation Chief
Theresa Spence. "He's (Robinson) been affected big time. Luckily, we
had some of our leadership there," Harper said.

"One thing we've been fighting for a long time is the lack of
inspections of the highways for drugs reaching our communities. We
need to mobilize law enforcement," the grand chief said.

Harper said First Nations need more help with security to stop drugs
before they arrive on reserves.

Some bands have a ban on alcohol, and drugs are illegal everywhere, he
noted.

"My staff met with Perimeter Airlines (Monday). You need checkstops to
ensure drugs don't reach our communities and don't harm our people.
There's a lot of drug involvement, influencing a lot of our young people.

"Crack cocaine is coming in, there's still ecstasy, and oxys
(OxyContin)," Harper said.

Band councils are concentrating on educating children against drugs,
but they need far greater resources, including more community police
and more mental health services, he said.

RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Line Karpish said the homicides are keeping
investigators busy, but cautioned that no one should think the RCMP
can't handle the workload.

"Yes, we're busy, but we have skilled homicide investigators in every
corner of the province," Karpish said.

Justice Minister Andrew Swan said his office has noted the surge in
rural Manitoba homicides at the top of the year.

"Any time there's a violent crime, especially a homicide, it's
upsetting for everybody in Manitoba," Swan said. "Each one of them
represents a victim and represents a family that is now grieving, and
of course an offender that we now have to manage in the system."

Swan said the number of violent deaths represents how unpredictable
homicide is and how difficult it is for police to prevent it.

He said the Manitoba First Nations deaths, particularly the young age
of some of the victims and accused, justify the province's efforts to
keep young people out of gangs and criminal activity.

Swan said the province supports a private member's bill tabled last
year by Brampton-Springdale Conservative MP Parm Gill that would
criminalize gang recruitment. The proposed Criminal Organization
Recruitment Act, which has yet to go to committee hearings, would
carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a mandatory
minimum of six months if the person recruited is under 18.

"It makes sense that we target those people," Swan said. "If you're a
young person, becoming involved in a gang, becoming involved in
organized crime, it puts you at direct risk of death or serious
injury, not to mention the impact of a young person being involved in
gangs and organized crime on our community in general."

Swan said he believes "these series of tragedies" in Manitoba will be
seen as an anomaly.

He said the total number of homicides outside Winnipeg was less than
20 in 2012 and less than 20 in 2011. There were 24 such homicides in
2010.

"It just points out how unpredictable homicides are, but it doesn't
mean you stop doing everything you can to keep people safe."

He said the recent report by the domestic violence death review
committee the province created in June 2010 as a way to prevent more
women being killed by husbands and boyfriends is one example.

In one of its recommendations, the committee said it wants all police
officers to have cameras with them when they respond to domestic
violence calls. The committee said that would allow police to
immediately photograph a victim's injuries for use in court.

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[sidebar]

2013 Manitoba First Nations homicides

1. Jan. 1: Black River First Nation. Peter Richard Bird stabbed to
death. Charged with second-degree murder are Jason Moar, 20, and
Brandon Bird, 21.

2. Jan. 2: Long Plain First Nation. 24-year-old man killed. Cody
Alexander Schmidt, 21, of Long Plain, charged with second-degree murder.

3. Jan. 3: Moose Lake. 24-year-old man killed in an altercation. Lott
Campbell, 32, of Moose Lake, charged with second-degree murder.

4. Jan. 4: Keeseekowenin First Nation. Terrel Stewart Shorting, 34,
shot dead in a residence. Terris Ronald Mintuck, 50, of Keeseekowenin,
charged with second-degree murder.

5. Jan. 6: Gods Lake Narrows First Nation. Body of 15-year-old Leah
Anderson found on a snowy path in the community.

6. Jan. 20: Cross Lake First Nation. Austin Monias, 19, died from
injuries suffered at a house party.
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MAP posted-by: Matt