Sunday, June 14, 2020

Chantel Moore's family calls for justice, public inquiry during healing walk
Moore, a 26-year-old Indigenous woman, was shot and killed by police in Edmundston June 4

Sarah Morin · CBC News · Posted: Jun 13, 2020

Participants in a healing walk in Edmundston, N.B., carry a sign reading, 'Justice for Chantel Moore.' (Shane Magee/CBC)


Hundreds gathered in cities across New Brunswick and in Halifax on Saturday afternoon to take part in a healing walk in honour of Chantel Moore, the 26-year-old Indigenous woman shot and killed by police in Edmundston, N.B.

Moore's family addressed the crowd of about 100 people at the end of the walk in the Edmundston's town square, asking for justice and a full public inquiry into Chantel's death.

Joe Martin, a relative, said Moore was the second person in the family to die at the hands of a police officer.

"We've been hurt many times," he said. "How can we ever trust any police force? Why should we answer a door for a wellness check?"

Gracie, 6, the daughter of Chantel Moore, hands out cards in memory of her mother at Saturday's healing walk in Edmundston, N.B. (Genevieve Normad/Radio-Canada)

"How in the hell did that happen?"

Moore, originally from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation in British Columbia, was killed by Edmundston police on June 4 during a wellness check. Her funeral was Thursday. Quebec's independent police investigation agency, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, is investigating the shooting.

The agency is also investigating the death of a man from Metepenagiag First Nation who was shot and killed by RCMP Friday night. Friends and community members have identified the man killed as Rodney Levi, 48.

Mi'kmaq chief says community member fatally shot by New Brunswick RCMP

The silent healing walks began at 1 p.m. ADT Saturday in Edmundston, Fredericton and Moncton. Walkers wore orange-coloured clothing for Madawaska First Nation, which is near Edmundston. Others wore yellow and gold for Chantel Moore, whose favourite saying was "Stay Golden."

Chantel Moore's family led the march in Edmundston.

Joe Martin, a relative of Chantel Moore's, speaks on behalf of the family at the healing walk in Edmundston on Saturday. (Shane Magee/CBC)

Martha Martin, Moore's mother, said all she wants is justice for her daughter.

"Nobody should have to feel afraid," she said.

She called on Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to educate each other so everyone can live in peace.

 
Martha Martin, Chantel Moore's mother, speaks to reporters after Saturday's healing walk in Edmundston. (Shane Magee/CBC)

"We shouldn't have to be afraid of having that wellness call. The message today is we're going to come together as one and that's really important."

She said her heart goes out to families who are experiencing the same thing.

Most attendees wore masks and physically distanced themselve from others. Moore's family wore masks with her name written across it. Moore's six-year-old daughter Gracie gave out cards with her mother's name, photo and a message written on them.

Nora Martin, a relative of Moore's, said Gracie told her she didn't want to die like her mother.

"There's no way on this earth that Chantel should have been shoot five, six times," Nora Martin said. "No way. She did not deserve that."

People silently walk through the streets of Edmundston in memory of Chantel Moore. (Shane Magee/CBC)

Amanda Myran, an organizer of Fredericton's healing walk, said people are understandably angry and sad over Moore and Levi's deaths.

"I think having two Indigenous people killed in Wabanaki territory within the span of eight days speaks to the fact that this is a crisis and it needs to be addressed as such," Myran said.

A man at Fredericton's healing walk carries a sign reading 'Justice for Chantel Moore.' (Gary Moore/CBC)

Jake Stewart, New Brunswick's minister of Aboriginal Affairs, offered condolences to Moore's family and the community of Metepenagiag.

"I'm deeply sorry that this has happened," Stewart said.

Stewart admitted systemic racism exists throughout government. He said the death of Levi has amplified the call for politicians and the public to act.

Edmundston Mayor Cyrille Simard and New Brunswick's Lt. Gov Brenda Murphy also offered condolences.

"I'm shocked, I'm dismayed, I'm saddened and I'm angry that this systemic injustice has happened," Murphy said.

Those who took part in the walk used sacred drums to soothe shared anguish and wore ceremonial skirts and shirts to honour First Nations colours and pride.

Chantel Moore was shot and killed June 4 by police in Edmundston. CBC has permission from Chantel Moore's family to use this photo. (Chantel Moore/Facebook)

Imelda Perley, the former Elder-in-residence at the University of New Brunswick and instructor at the Mi'kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre, said healing is crucial right now.

"Rather than showcasing anger, confusion, fear, I wanted us to unite in solidarity," Perley said Friday. "To pray and to call on our ancestors and allies to walk with us."

During the walk, women carried a bowl of water that was poured into the centre of a healing circle so Moore's family could witness the emotions being given back to Mother Earth.

"Our gift of water is to carry the emotions of all people who are feeling the pain," Perley said.


The healing walk should not be called or be seen as a protest, Perley said. The walk is Ikatomone, which translates to "Let's guard."

"Let's guard our spirits, our languages, our cultural ways of doing things. This is what I wanted to revitalize and remind the next generation that this is how we ask for justice."

With files from Information Morning Moncton, Logan Perley, Shane Magee, Hadeel Ibrahim, Gary Moore

Nova Scotia
Hundreds walk to honour Chantel Moore Saturday in Halifax

The event started in Grand Parade and ended at Halifax police headquarters
CBC News · Posted: Jun 13, 2020
People gather in Halifax's Grand Parade on Saturday before the healing walk in memory of Chantel Moore. ( Olivier Lefebvre/CBC)

About 400 people gathered to take part in a healing walk in memory of Chantel Moore in Halifax on Saturday.

The ceremony for Indigenous peoples and supporters began in Grand Parade around 1:30 p.m., with many dressed in shades of yellow and gold.

Attendees were asked to wear their Indigenous regalia, gold and yellow colours, or rainbows.

Moore's catchphrase was, "stay golden," according to organizers, and shortly after she died a rainbow appeared in the sky.

There are healing walks in many communities this weekend in memory of Chantel Moore. CBC has permission from Chantel Moore's family to use this photo. (Chantel Moore/Facebook)

The event was one of many that happened across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to honour Moore, the 26-year-old Indigenous woman who was shot and killed by police in Edmundston earlier this month.

Healing walks also took place in Edmundston, Fredericton, Moncton and the Membertou First Nation in Cape Breton on Saturday.

The Edmundston Police Force has said an officer shot a woman during a wellness check June 4 after she threatened him with a knife. The officer was not injured
Halifax organizers said the priority of the event was collective healing, although they also wanted to amplify the message "abolish the police."

They say too many Indigenous and Black lives have been lost at the hands of police.

Moore's funeral was Thursday. Quebec's independent police investigation agency, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI), is investigating the shooting and the province confirmed on Thursday a coroner's inquest will take place.

Walk attendees urged to wear regalia, certain colours
Attendees of the 'Healing Walk K'jipuktuk', the Mi'kmaw name for Halifax, were asked to read through proper protocol composed by Dr. Imelda Perley on the Facebook event.

Perley, the former Elder-in-residence at the University of New Brunswick and instructor at the Mi'kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre, writes that a healing walk should never be called a protest.

"This is not our traditional word, we instead use 'Ikatomone' (eek-gut-moh-neh) which translates to 'let's guard' our way of life, our languages, our ceremonies, our rights to declare justice," she said.

A supporter walks with a sign during the healing walk honouring Chantel Moore in Halifax on Saturday. (Brooklyn Currie/CBC)

Perley said other protocols include using sacred drums, and wearing ceremonial skirts and shirts to honour the First Nations' colours and pride.
Police kill Indigenous man Friday night

A day before the various walks, police shot and killed another Indigenous person in New Brunswick.

Friends and community members have identified the man killed as Rodney Levi, 48, of the Metepenagiag First Nation.


Quebec's BEI is also investigating the shooting, which they said happened in the vicinity of Miramichi, N.B., which is about 32 km east of Metepenagiag First Nation.


Hundreds walk to honour Chantel Moore Saturday in Halifax

A Halifax healing walk to honour First Nations woman Chantel Moore is one of many that took place across New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on Saturday. The 26-year-old Indigenous woman was shot and killed by police in Edmundston earlier this month. 1:00

Levi was shot by a member of the Sunny Corner RCMP during an incident in Boom Road, N.B.

RCMP were called at 8 p.m. local time to respond to reports of a person "possibly armed with a knife."

Officers reportedly found the person in a building with the knife and used a stun gun "several times, without success," said the statement.

The statement said the individual allegedly charged at police and one of the officers fired his gun, hitting the man, who was then given medical assistance and later pronounced dead at a hospital.

The organizers of the Halifax event handed out pamphlets with the names of eight Indigenous people who were killed by police forces in Canada since April. Levi was not among them.

In light of Levi's death, which organizers said was "unbearable," there was no water ceremony.

The people set to lead the ceremony knew Levi, so the event was cancelled to give them room to grieve.

Instead, the walk ended at Halifax Regional Police headquarters on Gottingen Street, where demonstrators led chants and played a grieving song in honour of Moore and Levi.


The event ended at Halifax Regional Police headquarters on Gottingen St. (Brooklyn Currie/CBC)




B.C. woman shot dead during police wellness check had just made fresh start to be with her child, family says

Police say woman emerged from her apartment with a knife and attacked officer  COPS LIE

Yvette Brend · CBC News · Posted: Jun 04, 2020 | Last Updated: June 9

Chantel Moore, 26, was shot by police in New Brunswick early Thursday morning during a wellness check. She died at the scene. CBC has permission from Chantel Moore's family to use the photos included in this story. (Chantel Moore/Facebook)

Chantel Moore, a Vancouver Island woman who died after being shot in New Brunswick by police early Thursday, was kind, gentle and bubbly, and was making a fresh start to be closer to her mother and six-year-old daughter, her family says.

In a statement, the Edmundston Police Force said officers were called to do a wellness check on a woman in an apartment in the city. When they arrived, she emerged with a knife and attacked an officer, Insp. Steve Robinson told reporters on Thursday.

"He had no choice but to defend himself," Robinson said.

Moore, a 26-year-old Indigenous woman, died at the scene.

"I'm pissed. I'm outraged," Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said Friday in Ottawa.

Miller said that he watched several incidents involving police and Indigenous people yesterday in what he described as "disgust."

"I don't understand how someone dies during a wellness check? Police serve Canadians and Indigenous peoples of Canada — not the opposite. These independent inquires need to bring justice," said Miller.

Watch as Chantel Moore's great aunt, Nora Martin, describes who she was and what questions her family is asking:

Chantel Moore's great aunt, Nora Martin, says she doesn't believe the 26-year-old would act violently toward a police officer and her family wants to know why she was shot. 1:23

His outrage echoes words from Indigenous leaders.

"It's shocking. It's appalling. Policing in North America has just so deteriorated to this point to where we are on the verge of civil unrest here," Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, said Friday.

The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation woman loved dirt biking and swimming, and was devoted to her family, loved ones say.

Moore was born in Edmundston, N.B., but moved to B.C. as a small child and grew up in Nanaimo and Port Alberni, her great-aunt says.

She was adopted by a family from about age four until age 14 but ran away, and was raised by her grandmother after that in Port Alberni.

She'd lived in Port Alberni for the past four years and recently saved money to move away, according to one of her siblings.
'She would never hold a knife'

News of her death has stunned many in the tight-knit Vancouver Island communities.

"She was funny. Bubbly. She was such a little joker," said Melinda Martin, her half-sister from Port Alberni.

Martin said she wants justice.

"She would never hold a knife," she said, sobbing.

Indigenous woman killed by Edmundston, N.B., police during wellness check

Martin said Moore had just saved the money to move to New Brunswick to be closer to her daughter, Gracie, who had been living with Moore's mother.

She said her younger sister was proud and in good spirits. She was off to see her mother and child, then head home.

"She was so excited," said Martin. She says her sister called her every day, and they'd spoken around 10:40 p.m. PT the night before she died.

Not long after, around 1 a.m. PT, Moore's grandmother, Grace Frank, got a call telling her that her granddaughter had been shot in the chest and was dead. 

Suspect turns himself in after racist incident on First Nation near Port Alberni, B.C.

Nora Martin, Moore's great-aunt, spoke for Frank, who could be heard through the telephone, sobbing in the background.

"We heard that one cop went to Chantel's place by himself, and that he shot at her five times and she was trying to attack him with a knife," said Martin.

She believes that a man who dated Moore called police from Montreal or Toronto to ask to check on her well-being because he feared she was being harassed by someone.

Frank was too overcome to speak but posted to her Facebook page. 

"I don't believe this. They were going there to check on her, not kill her. This is not right. Why would they shoot her five times?"


For years, Moore worked at the Tseshaht market and Fas Gas Plus gas station, a pit-stop on the Island Highway.

Tseshaht Coun. Hugh Braker said the news was upsetting, especially given a recent racist attack on the Tseshaht First Nations territory near Port Alberni and ongoing racial tensions with police in Canada and the U.S., with the death of George Floyd underscoring how many police incidents end in the death of a person of colour.

"It just heightens the tension and comes at such a bad time — the shooting of any woman is terrible and tragic at any time," said Braker.

There will be an independent review of the shooting, with the aid of New Brunswick RCMP's investigative and forensic teams, the Edmundston force said.

Editor's note: There have been numerous posts on social media urging the media to remove images of Chantel Moore out of respect to Tla-o-qui-aht cultural traditions. The CBC was provided photos of Chantel by members of her family. The CBC also spoke to Chief Councillor Moses Martin of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation who said the decision on displaying photographs is at the family's discretion. "We need to get this message out and this young woman has become the face of a societal issue that we want people to understand happens, and should not," he added. 

Moore grew up on Vancouver Island, but left recently to live in New Brunswick where she joined her mother and daughter Gracie, 6. CBC has permission from Chantel Moore's family to use the photos included in this story. (Chantel Moore/Facebook)


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