Shooting in Neqotkuk First Nation
Hear the story below:
An Indigenous man Bronson Paul was shot and killed by police Sunday evening in Neqotkuk First Nation, a Wolastoqey community also known as Tobique. The death has prompted renewed calls from Green Party politicians for an Indigenous-led inquiry into policing and systemic racism in New Brunswick.
Green Party leader David Coon released a statement Monday morning noting that all police killings in New Brunswick over the past five years have involved Indigenous people. Coon called for an Indigenous-led investigation into police training and response practices.
Green Party response
Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton is the Deputy Leader of the New Brunswick Green Party. Mitton met with CHMA News to discuss the statement and the broader implications of the shooting.
Mitton began by offering condolences to the community.
“I want to express my condolences to the whole community, to his friends and family. This is such a terrible tragedy and it’s heartbreaking to witness another community having to navigate this. It’s completely unacceptable.”
Calls for an Indigenous-led inquiry
Mitton says the killing should not be treated as an isolated incident and is supporting calls for an Indigenous-led inquiry into systemic racism within New Brunswick’s policing and justice systems.
“This can’t keep happening. This is a systemic issue. We know that four Indigenous people have been killed in interactions with the police in the last handful of years.”
SiRT investigation and representation
The case is now under investigation by New Brunswick’s Serious Incident Response Team, known as SiRT. Mitton says Indigenous representation within that investigative process is essential.
“Chief Perley was talking about needing Indigenous representation on the SiRT investigation. With SiRT, there needs to be Indigenous representation on that investigative team. This is not an isolated incident. We need the RCMP to take this seriously, and with Indigenous involvement, work to actually make changes so that this doesn’t happen.”
Beyond the current investigation
Beyond the current investigation, Mitton says broader action is required at the provincial level.
“I want to reiterate that we need, and I’m echoing the calls of chiefs and Indigenous communities, an Indigenous-led independent inquiry into systemic racism in the policing and justice systems.”
She says accountability for this case must be paired with long-term structural change.
“There are specific things that need to happen so that there’s justice right now in this situation. But there also needs to be systemic change to prevent this from happening again.”
Criticism of provincial response
Mitton was also critical of the province’s response to recommendations from a systemic racism report.
“There’s not enough information there. This feels like paying lip service to this report, and this is really inadequate.”
Premier responds
Premier Susan Holt also responded publicly. In a Facebook post Monday morning, Holt said she was saddened and angered by the death and extended condolences to the family and community.
‘A matter of life or death’
Mitton says delays in addressing systemic racism carry serious consequences.
“It’s extremely frustrating and disappointing, and it’s a matter of life or death for some people whether the government does this work, whether the government takes this seriously and does this well.”
Those are among the issues Mitton says must be addressed to prevent future tragedies.
Find more local coverage at chmafm.com.
Clinton Davis is a community journalist and audio producer covering the people, events, and ideas shaping the Tantramar region.
