Non-violent Gathering and March for Justice in Ottawa, Friday March 9th 2018 Justice for Brady Francis, Joey Knapaysweet, Tina Fontaine, Colten Boushie

On Feb 24th, 2018, 22 year old Brady Alexander Perley-Francis from Elsipogtog First Nation was struck and killed by a hit and run. He was a friendly young man with a heart of gold. This tragic and sudden event left many community members in Elsipogtog filled with anger as they tried to grapple with questions that have been unanswered.

• RCMP are investigating this case, but after watching the injustices towards Tina Fontaine and Colten Boushie, this puts community members on edge. They are calling for justice; they want this case to be treated fairly. Here in Ottawa, we stand in solidarity with Elsipogtog First Nation as they fight for justice and equity for Brady Francis and his family.

What: Affected family members by (MMIW, MMIB, MMI2S) and community members will gather for a round dance at Carleton University, in the atrium of the the University Center.

• Around 1h30pm, we will began a justice march along Riverside Drive, towards the RCMP station.

• At the RCMP station, we hope to deliver demands informed by the wishes of the family and the broader community.

When: Friday March 9th – 12pm: Gathering Carleton, UC Atrium – 1h30pm: March begins

Our public demands to the RCMP are as followed:

1. We demand the RCMP continues to work on the case of Brady Francis and ensures to treat it with the utmost fairness. Treat this case the same as you would for a deceased white person or a family member. We demand that the family be treated with respect and care. We demand the RCMP maintain their professionality always, treating evidence with confidentiality and making sure that it is not altered in any way.

2. On a broader scale, we demand that the RCMP confronts racism towards Indigenous Peoples and people of colour, and aim to do better. We demand that the RCMP begins anti-racist and anti– oppression training for all of its staff. This includes a portion on the history of the RCMP and why it was created in Canada, including its role in carrying the colonial project. The RCMP must implement disciplinary actions in the event of racism towards Indigenous folks.

3. Building on demande #2, we demand that the RCMP becomes aware that each territory under “their” jurisdiction is Indigenous land. These lands are governed by the legal orders of the original Nations of Turtle Island. The police institution needs to learn about these legal orders and it needs to start respecting them and consult with Knowledge Holders, Medicine Bundle Holders, and Language Speakers when appropriate. The RCMP needs to be aware that there are alternative to policing here.