Carrier Sekani Tribal Council
News Release
February 14, 2013
Nilhchuk-un: Those Who Take Us Away
DAKELH TRADITIONAL TERRITORY/PRINCE GEORGE, BC – The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) is not surprised with the results provided by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report “Those who take us away”, and are calling on the two levels of government, the Royal Canadian Mountain Mounted Police (RCMP) and the United Nations Human Rights Council to follow through with the recommendations of the report. The CSTC participated in the development of the report by providing the services of former Tribal Chief and former Highway of Tears Coordinator Mavis Erickson to liaise with the communities and the HRW research team. Last June, Mrs. Erickson was also appointed by the CSTC Chiefs to be the representative on women’s issues.
Tribal Chief Terry Teegee stated, “In our Carrier language many of our Dakelh people used the term ‘Nilhchuk-un’ which is used in reference to the RCMP officers as ‘those who take us away’ which is an appropriate name for this report.” Teegee continued, “First and foremost the HRW has echoed the call for an inquiry into the missing women in northern BC and also the call for a national inquiry into missing and murdered women across this country. The recommendations clearly set out steps for the government of Canada, the province of British Columbia, the RCMP and the UN Human Rights Council for the protection of Indigenous women.”
The Report reminds Canada of its obligations to indigenous women under international law and the United Nations which highlights three areas: The Responsibility to Address Violence against Women and Girls, The Responsibility to Protect the Rights of Persons in Custody and finally The Responsibility to Address Discrimination. With this in mind, it is important to note that Prime Minister Harper’s recent comments in the House of Commons are a clear breach of all of those obligations. Harper suggested these victims should report to the authorities (RCMP) who are the alleged perpetrators of this violence. Rather, the CSTC agrees with the report that there should be an independent investigation on these allegations.
CSTC Women’s Representative Mavis Erickson concluded, “These are the types of allegations we have heard all of our lives and it should come as no surprise to the public, especially in light of the recent allegations by women RCMP Constables filing complaints against their male counterparts. One has to ask if the RCMP are being accused of sexual harassment in the workplace what are they doing to the women who they are supposed to protect?”
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For more information, contact:
Tribal Chief Terry Teegee at 250-562-6279; cell (250) 640-3256
DAKELH TRADITIONAL TERRITORY/PRINCE GEORGE, BC – The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) is not surprised with the results provided by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report “Those who take us away”, and are calling on the two levels of government, the Royal Canadian Mountain Mounted Police (RCMP) and the United Nations Human Rights Council to follow through with the recommendations of the report. The CSTC participated in the development of the report by providing the services of former Tribal Chief and former Highway of Tears Coordinator Mavis Erickson to liaise with the communities and the HRW research team. Last June, Mrs. Erickson was also appointed by the CSTC Chiefs to be the representative on women’s issues.