Teegee to work with NDP on involuntary care; eyes inquiry on Indigenous in-custody deaths

BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee is ready to get back to the negotiating table with the NDP once the legislature resumes.

While Teegee is calling on Premier David Eby to continue reconciliation with First Nations, another talking point will be involuntary care.

During the campaign, Eby noted the New Democrats would look at expanded care for those with brain injuries, mental illness and severe addiction – a move that has seen some opposition in places like Prince George.

Teegee told Vista Radio the issue needs to be explored further so that Indigenous residents receive the proper care.

“We need a better understanding as First Nations people on how that could potentially affect us. I think there is this knee-jerk movement in this and that involuntary care needs should be closely looked at to make sure the rights of our Indigenous peoples aren’t being violated.”

He noted having the right support to assist Indigenous Peoples struggling with addiction will be key.

“It is really important that we have culturally appropriate practices and or a better understanding of First Nations and Indigenous peoples in terms of care so that we can get the care that we need.”

In June of 2023, ground broke on the Tachick Lake Healing Centre near Vanderhoof.

Once built, the healing centre will offer a 10-bed medical detox program as well as 36 beds for its residential treatment program – construction is expected to wrap up in 2025.

In addition, Teegee stated the 2024 BC Election was marred by a stark division between the New Democrats and the Conservatives – he added some of the questionable tactics by the provincial Tories didn’t sit well with many Indigenous groups.

“Within the province of BC, there is a lot of divisive politics with the Conservative Party, a lot of fear-mongering and really dividing and using Pollievre and Trump-style politics to divide this province and I think the Conservatives need to be held accountable for that.”

“This includes a lot of the racist comments from their candidates that came to light over the election period so I think there is a lot to address here for other party that is going to be a critic for a lot of what the NDP is doing.”

“This was no help from Kevin Falcon and his leadership with the United Party (Former BC Liberals). I think there were many citizens out there that were perhaps right-centre, they didn’t have a choice but to vote for a Conservative and a very right-wing government. Perhaps, they just plugged their nose and picked a Conservative candidate,” added Teegee.

During the next legislature, the BCAFN is calling on the provincial Government to pursue true reconciliation with First Nations and to include the following pieces in their legislative agenda:

• Negotiations between the Province and First Nations must resume as soon as the interregnum has concluded, with strong cross-ministry mandates that ensures the full application of the Declaration of Indigenous Peoples Act including the implementation of Section 6 & 7 agreements to increase the decision-making authority of Indigenous Governing Bodies and the call for changes to key pieces of legislation including but not limited to the Mineral Tenure Act, the Land Act and the Environmental Assessment Act.
• A full public inquiry into the deaths of First Nations people at the hands of police must be launched.
• Continued and ongoing support for First Nations pursuing financial independence through economic development must be secured.

On Wednesday, the First Nations Leadership Council endorsed demands from the families of nine First Nations individuals who were killed by law enforcement agencies across the country in August and September.

In addition, the group demanded the BC Attorney General reconsider the court rulings regarding the deaths of Jared Lowndes and Dale Culver, who both died during their interactions with B.C. RCMP officers.

Culver died in police custody following a struggle with the Prince George RCMP in July of 2017.

Constable Arthur Dalman who was found guilty of obstruction of justice in the Culver case will have to wait until at least 2025 to be sentenced.

The Prosecution Service noted Dalman was one of two officers on trial in the case – however, Sgt. Bayani (Jon) Eusebio Cruz was found not guilty.

In April, manslaughter charges against Constable Paul Ste-Marie and Constable Jean Francois Monette were dropped during a preliminary hearing at the Prince George Courthouse.

A month later, a criminal charge against Const. Clarence Alexander MacDonald was stayed.

This has led Teegee to try and help action a national inquiry into the in-custody deaths of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

“Dale Culver and my relative Everett Patrick and the nine across the country that have died at the hands of police whether that is the RCMP, provincial or municipal police – what we are calling upon is a national inquiry of all the deaths of First Nations and Indigenous Peoples at the hands of police.”

“Certainly, this is not just a BC discussion, it is a national discussion. A lot of the colleagues from the other regions have also had similar instances but not only death in custody but Indigenous peoples being injured.”