Supporting local First Nation t-shirt business creates problem for Fort Severn youth with TBay police
NAN / Fort Severn Press Release ....
DFC Student Awaits Internal Investigation
THUNDER BAY, ON: The family of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) member Abraham Miles (17) together with Fort Severn First Nation and NAN await the results of an internal investigation of Thunder Bay Police following a November 7, 2007 incident where Miles was interrogated and photographed by police during a school tour of the Thunder Bay police department.
During a class tour earlier this month Miles was told by a Thunder Bay Police officer to remove his shirt, while escorted into a separate room for questioning without the presence or access to an adult or legal counsel
“This is an example of racial profiling,” said Fort Severn First Nation Chief David Matthews. “This happened during a class tour, 500 miles away from his home, and among peers, with no explanation to him at the time.”
Miles, who attends Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School (DFC), was pulled from a tour of approximately 12 other students because the t-shirt he was wearing displayed an Indian War Chief – a figure Thunder Bay Police said is associated with gangs.
In fact, Miles’ shirt is from Warchief Native Apparel – a clothing line promoting pride and unity among all First Nations through fashion with the mission of giving First Nation people a sense of pride and connection to their roots through original designs based on native culture.
“I wouldn’t want an incident like this to tarnish a successful young First Nation entrepreneur who’s incorporating clothing trends with traditional art and culture – this should be a good news story, not a negative one,” said Matthews.
“This is just one incident of many brought to our attention,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler who’s responsible for the justice portfolio at NAN. “There has to be a systemic review as follow up – this can’t keep happening.”
Thunder Bay Police launched an internal investigation November 27. A report on this investigation is expected by December 14.
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Native community angry after police question teen about shirt
Chief says Thunder Bay incident reflects larger issue of racial profiling: 'What crime did he commit other than being a native person?'
UNNATI GANDHI - December 4, 2007
A native community is infuriated after a teenage member was embarrassed and interrogated by an officer during a field trip to a local police station.
Abraham Miles, 17, was touring the Thunder Bay Police Service with a dozen classmates last month when he was pulled aside by a police officer who remarked that his T-shirt, which prominently displayed the image of a native war chief, is associated with gangs.
Stan Beardy, Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, said Mr. Miles was told to remove his shirt in front of his peers before being escorted to a separate room for questioning without an adult present.
"The truth is, he was out here by himself, 500 miles from home. English is his second language," Mr. Beardy said yesterday. "If that young man, 17 years old, tried to make reason with a six-foot policeman that weighs 300 pounds, what are [his] chances of being heard?"
Mr. Beardy said the incident points to a larger issue of racial profiling of native people by police.
"What crime did he commit other than being a native person? Wearing a shirt the policeman didn't like?"
Mr. Miles was also photographed, he said.
Thunder Bay Police Inspector Andy Hay said the boy was not charged, but would not comment further, saying the matter was being probed as part of an internal investigation, after a formal complaint under the Police Services Act was made to the chief of police.
A report is expected to be released Dec. 14.
Mr. Miles, who attends Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, an aboriginal school in Thunder Bay, is from the Fort Severn First Nation on the shores of Hudson Bay. He did not want to talk about the Nov. 7 incident yesterday.
Mr. Beardy said the confrontation was unfortunate because the school trip was supposed to be a way for the students to be introduced to an important institution.
"[It was] part of their transitional training into mainstream society ... so that if they fall into trouble with something, somewhere, they can depend on the police for protection like everybody else."
The T-shirt Mr. Miles was wearing is from Warchief Native Apparel, a clothing line that "promotes pride and unity among all First Nations through fashion," according to its website.
Mr. Beardy said the company is based in Mr. Miles's community.
"We try to portray ourselves in a positive manner with our own art and our own artists," he said. "But instead, they just took him aside and said, 'You know, you're a native person, the T-shirt says war chief, so it has to be gang-related.'"
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City police accused of racial profiling after school tour
12/4/2007 - The Thunder Bay Police Service is being accused of racial profiling and has launched an internal investigation into an incident that allegedly occurred November 7th, during a class field trip to police headquarters.
A Police Service spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that an investigation started on November 27 after officers were accused of racial profiling stemming from an incident that is alleged to have taken place a month ago on a tour of their facilities. They cannot comment on the issue because the investigation is ongoing.
Twelve students from Dennis Franklin Cromarty School were touring the station Nov. 7, when a 17-year-old student was reportedly taken aside, interrogated, photographed and asked to remove his t-shirt by an officer because it was 'gang-related.' Inspector Andy Hay says the complaint is under review.
The Nishnawbe Aski-Nation and the Fort Severn First Nation, where the student is from, are accusing the Police Service of racial profiling and are waiting for the results of an internal investigation. A report is expected by December 14th.
Fort Severn First Nation Chief David Matthews said it was a humiliating and embarrassing experience for the minor. ''This happened during a class tour, 500 miles from his home, and among his peers, with no explanation to him at the time.''
''He was taken into a room without no legal counsel or an adult. And that was the issue there. All because he was wearing this clothing - which we believe is racial profiling against native youth of Thunder Bay.''
Matthews says he was treated this way because he was wearing a shirt from the clothing line, Warchief Native Apparel. He says the police thought the figure on the shirt was related to a gang. According to the clothing line's web site, the designs were created to promote pride and unity among First Nation people.
''It's no way related to any gang or gangs, whoever, in Canada. It's a legitimate clothing line based in Fort Severn.''
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy says the most troubling part of it all, is this student was taken aside, questioned and photographed, without without any adults present and the officers violated the minor's human rights. Beardy says they have to seek legal advice, because it's crucial not to let these kinds of incidents go unnoticed.
''I think it just points to the fact that there is greater need for improvement, and definitely, I will make every effort to continue to work with the city, and the city council and also the city police, to address the issue in the long term . But, in the meantime, I think it's really important that something constructive comes out of this.''