The family of a man shot by a Thompson RCMP officer on Oct. 25 said during an online press conference on Wednesday that they need people who saw the incident to talk to the agency investigating the shooting.
“Your interpretation of what you’ve seen matters,” said family spokesperson Kikiwani Mikisew Iskwew, a resident of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation at South Indian Lake and sister of the 30-year-old man who was shot shortly before 3 pm. Monday, identified only as Little Ray. “Today your voice matters. We cannot remain silent our or relatives will continue to be mistreated by the systemic violence against Indigenous people of this land. When you speak you become the voice of a relative that did not survive police brutally or the legitimized murder of Colten Boushie and all of the missing and murdered Indigenous women and men and so many more that did not survive to tell their story.”
Iskwew said seeing the video of Little Ray being shot was traumatizing for the family and that they believe the officer who fired the shot had other options.
“We feel that the shooting of Ray could have been done differently. There were other measures that could have been put in place to de-escalate the situation. The RCMP officer could have used nonviolent intervention strategies to de-escalate the situation by remaining calm and by using his voice.”
The family also disputed the RCMP’s claim that Little Ray was armed when a police officer encountered him while delivering legal documents.
“In the media and other platforms, there are allegations of Little Ray having a knife,” Iskwew said. “However, after reviewing the video, we see no evidence of a weapon in Little Ray’s possession.”
Little Ray, 30, the father of five children, was in stable condition Oct. 27 after a four-hour surgery and was brought down to the Thompson General Hospital lobby Wednesday morning to see his two mothers. A statement from the family sent out by Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) said Little Ray is a talented construction worker who loves to sing and play guitar and would give the shirt off his back to someone in need.
“He is in good spirits, grateful to be here and he sends his love to all his family and friends and says thank you for the prayers,” Iskwew said.
Roger moose, Little Ray’s uncle, who gave an opening prayer prior the press conference filmed at MKO’s Thompson office, told Iskwew that the officer who shot him could not claim self-defence and that something must be done to hold the police officer accountable.
O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation Chief Shirley Ducharme, who is also MKO’s vice-chief, said she was saddened and concerned when she saw the disturbing footage of Little Ray being shot.
“MKO First Nations work closely and have an ongoing relationship with the RCMP,” Ducharme said. “We will continue to work closely with them as we move towards reconciliation. We also stand with the family and MKO citizens who are impacted by this incident.”
Iskwew said this is not the first time her family has been failed by the justice system, as no one was held accountable for the killing of her brother Brendon Moose.
The family urges anyone with information about the shooting to contact Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba senior investigator Craig Gerstmar at 1-431-374-9115, 1-204-948-7008 or craig.gerstmar@iiumanitoba.ca.
They also said they were disappointed not to have heard anything from the RCMP.
“It is extremely hurtful that there is no reassurance from the RCMP,” read their statement.
