A meeting between Premier Blaine Higgs and six Chiefs of the the Wolastoqey Nation to consider an Independent Inquiry ended abruptly.
This comes after the deaths of two Indigenous people in separate police shootings in New Brunswick.
Chief Ross Perley of Tobique First Nation says they want the government to open their eyes to the challenges Indigenous people are facing, “A regime of systemic racism has been built up in this province and this country against its Indigenous peoples. “We started the meeting with the Premier and the Ministers and they were very positive about working together, but we later found out that they came in with their own agenda. The proposals that we tabled weren’t going to be considered.”
He adds, systemic racism is a problem, especially in the justice system, “Why because, a lot of people are poor. A lot of our people can’t afford lawyers. A lot of our people can’t travel to the courthouses. These are issues, the stories aren’t being told and we want them to be told at an inquiry.”
The Chiefs say Higgs refuses to call an independent inquiry, but the premier says he never ruled it out, “I never did that at any point in time. What I suggested is that we need the federal government’s involvement because many of these issues are directly related to them.”
But Chief Perley says they need action now, “Only an inquiry to deliver a credible and independent process that can lead to a justice system in which our peoples can have faith.”
Higgs suggests they need to get the federal government involved because these issues are bigger than New Brunswick and every province is dealing with the same concerns.
“What am I signing up for? What is going to achieved? What re the questions that are going to be asked? What is it going to entail? And how does it reflect on national progress?” Higgs asked.
Chief Perley says the premier is searching for excuses to not call an inquiry.
