The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations is calling for more to be done after a report by the Public Complaints Commission was released regarding the death of Tanner Brass on Feb. 10, 2022.
Chief Bobby Cameron said the report confirmed what FSIN already knew, and pushed for a Coroner’s Inquest, intervention by the Ministry of Corrections, and an overall greater investigation into the matter.
Kyla Frenchman’s legal counsel Eleanore Sunchild called the situation a travesty, noting the Prince Albert Police Service had a duty to protect Frenchman and her son, and failed.
She called for the police service to be held accountable.
“There needs to be a full-scale inquiry into the Prince Albert Police Service,” Sunchild said.
She claimed the officers who attended did not have proper training, and that it was a common issue with Prince Albert police.
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“The Prince Albert Police Service has a history of neglect and abuse towards Indigenous people in Prince Albert,” Sunchild claimed.
“This was a preventable tragedy.”
Sunchild said the police chief resigned, but so should the officers involved in the incident.
“We need answers. We need the Prince Albert Police Service to be held accountable.”
She said significant changes are needed.
Cameron said this isn’t over, noting this was something the FSIN stated last year and that it didn’t need the report to tell the FSIN what it already knew.
He said the justice system failed First Nation people once again.
Cameron said it would have taken the officers that night just a few seconds to check on Tanner and save his life.
“What (the officers) did is despicable,” Cameron said, noting the officers responsible should be criminally charged.
Cameron said First Nations experts need to be involved in a greater investigation.
“We don’t want this to happen to any other mother again. We don’t want to lose any more children this way.”
Prince Albert Grand Council Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte said he had questions about the findings in the report, stressing a larger inquiry was needed.
He said a closer look was also needed into the supervisors of these officers.
“It’s sad that we all have to be here. This kind of stuff shouldn’t happen,” Hardlotte said.
He called this a pivotal moment for reconciliation and unity, noting this was an opportunity for open, candid dialogue.
Hardlotte called for the interim police chief that will fill in at PAPS to do the right thing, and asked the same of Minister of Justice Christine Tell and Premier Scott Moe.
FSIN 2nd Vice Chief Edward Lerat said he believes essential details from the night Tanner died were not considered in the report.
He said Frenchman asked for help and protection from the police, but did not receive that.
“What is clear is that (Frenchman) called 911 and asked police to attend her baby, who was in danger, and she had been assaulted. Based on that alone the police had a responsibility to check on the safety of baby Tanner,” Lerat said.
He said he found it concerning that the report seemed to put all the blame on the two officers who responded that night, adding the report leaves out the mismanagement of senior police staff.
Minister Tell sent a statement regarding the report on Tanner’s death, saying the situation was tragic and immediate change was needed.
“I am confident that the new interim Chief of Police will begin the process of change that is necessary. I look forward to the continued cooperation of the Prince Albert Board of Police Commissioners as they move forward during this challenging time and as we prepare for release of the Prince Albert Police Service Special Inquiry final report in the coming weeks,” Tell said.
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