[IPSM] winnipeg pigs kill Native youth

[JJ]

February 7, 2005 
Tension grows between Winnipeg cops, natives over shooting of aboriginal teenBy STEVE LAMBERTWINNIPEG (CP) - Relations between city police and native leaders grew even more tense Monday with new accusations concerning officer conduct in the fatal shooting of an aboriginal teen. 
"We've got some (shooting) witnesses that came forward to tell us . . . 'I'm scared. The police have been to my doors already and I'm scared. I've been threatened,' " said Dennis White Bird, Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. The unnamed witnesses said they were told by police not to go public with their story, White Bird said. 
Winnipeg police Chief Jack Ewatski was not available to comment on the allegation, but earlier in the day offered to include a representative of the assembly in the police investigation into the Jan. 31 shooting of Matthew Dumas, 18. 
"We all would like to know exactly what happened that day, and we'd certainly like to know it immediately," Ewatski said. 
"However, we know that these investigations are very complex and that it's going to take many days, perhaps weeks or months." 
Dumas was shot in a confrontation with officers who were responding to a report of a robbery. Police have said Dumas ignored directions to drop his weapon, reported to be a screwdriver, and kept advancing until he was shot. 
The officer who shot Dumas is Metis. 
White Bird rejected Ewatski's offer to participate in the investigation. The aboriginal leader said the police plan would only allow the assembly to get updates on the probe's progress. 
"All they say (they'll do) is provide briefings and updates," White Bird said. "I don't want to get myself involved in a process that is flawed." 
Once Winnipeg police complete the investigation, it will be reviewed by an outside police agency, which has yet to be determined. 
The Manitoba government is also holding a inquest into the shooting, which has reignited debate over whether police treat aboriginals unfairly. 
Chris Henderson, Grand Chief of the Southern Chiefs Organization, said his group has heard plenty of stories from aboriginals who feel mistreated. 
"They tell us that they're treated very disrespectfully and very unprofessionally," said Henderson. 
Dumas's sister, Jessica Paul, told reporters she has seen police target young men in Winnipeg's north end. 
"Growing up in the neighbourhood, I heard too many stories of acquaintances being abused by officers, youth being abused by those paid to serve and protect," she said. 
But Ewatski said the city force has taken several steps to address concerns about its treatment of aboriginals, including hiring more native officers, training members on aboriginal issues and setting up a liaison committee to better communicate with the aboriginal community. 
Ewatski also said his officers have faced criticism and insults since last week's shooting. 
"I have witnessed (it) myself, from people picketing the public safety building. . . holding signs that are quite disturbing, to comments that are being passed on to officers both in person and from what they read and see in the media."> 
Paul said any investigation must answer several questions such as exactly which of her brother's actions prompted the police response and why police used bullets instead of clubs. 
Paul also criticized the Media for reporting her brother's criminal past, which included a conviction on one count of possession of a weapon dangerous to the public. 
"He was only constructed as a mugging suspect, a thug, a knife-wielding teen," she said. 
"No one deserves the right to judge a man by his past. People do change and deserve the benefit of the doubt." 

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