Arrests made during Sask. Legislature protest camp eviction

Just over 24 hours after its provincial eviction deadline passed, the Justice for our Stolen Children camp across from the Saskatchewan Legislature was shut down by Regina police.

Multiple officers moved in around 2 p.m. Monday afternoon, arresting six protesters for obstruction. Some were hauled into police cruisers wearing handcuffs, others walked there peacefully on their own and one man was carried by cops.

“There was no violence, but there was passive resistance where people refused to stand up, they refused to follow direction,” said Regina Police Service Supt. Darcy Koch, adding no charges have yet been laid.

“We had an agreement (last Friday) with the organizers of this camp that we would respect culture and respect their request to have time to properly distinguish their fire and to take their teepee down. They said they 100 per cent agreed with that.”

https://twitter.com/jessieanton_/status/1008809419604312064

Robyn Pitawanakwat, a spokesperson for the camp, said that’s true — but by Sunday, the camp came to the consensus they had to put the teepee back up and continue their fight for justice. At that point, she said protesters knew the camp could be shut down and there was the possibility of arrests.

“It’s the experience of all the Indigenous people in this space; we are more subject to arrest,” she said. “Even when we do what the government wants us to do, we are still subject to criminalization, and all sorts of rules and regulations that other people may not be. I don’t think any other group would have had to wait outside for 111 days.”

Police have agreed to let camp supporters into the teepee until the sacred fire burns out. After that, everyone is asked to leave while the teepee is being dismantled, or else they’ll be arrested. #yqr #skpoli pic.twitter.com/ACxaHeGY7r

— Jessie Anton (@jessieanton_) June 18, 2018

Pitawanakwat added the camp being evicted shows a lack of respect towards Indigenous people.

“It symbolizes that we are still the least important thing for government,” she said. “They’re just trying to get rid of us — get rid of our voices.”

Finding common ground

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Don Morgan chose not to attend the camp while it was being shut down because he “didn’t think it would be beneficial” as emotions were running high.

However, Morgan noted he’s willing to meet with protesters in the coming days.

“I don’t want this to be a setback. My intention is to try and reach out,” he said. “I would be glad to have a discussion with them.”

Should the province plan a meeting with protesters, Pitawanakwat noted it’s crucial it’s under their terms.

“We’re unwilling to bend on the one thing that we requested, which was to have meetings here,” she said, referencing the camp’s now-torn-down teepee.

Morgan agreed, saying “if people don’t feel comfortable coming (to the Legislature), phone us, talk to us, and we’ll try to find something that’s more comfortable.”

Around 7:30 p.m., after making an agreement with police to wait until the camp’s sacred fire burned out naturally, most protesters cleared the area voluntarily with some staying behind to help peacefully dismantle the teepee.

Editor’s note: Regina police have confirmed six protesters were taken into custody. An earlier version of this story stated there were five people arrested.