Family and supporters of a Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation woman arrested on the weekend are staging two days of peaceful protest at the Loon Lake RCMP detachment in northern Saskatchewan. The arrest, captured by her daughter on cell phone video and shared to social media, has since gone viral with more than 2.7 million views. “Look what they did to my poor mom. My mom’s never had anything to do with the law ever!” Teyonah Angus posted alongside the video. “She has no existing criminal record whatsoever. How is this acceptable for them to do this to my MOTHER. My mom’s name is ROSE GEORGINA ANGUS. She’s a 40 year old Indigenous Cree woman a mother of four, she’s someone’s baby, she’s someone’s mother, she’s someone’s cousin/niece auntie, SHE’S SOMEONE. And they treated her like she was nothing.” The video shows a woman being taken to the ground by two RCMP officers. One can be heard saying “when I say get the (expletive) back from me, you get back. Do you hear me? (Expletive) unacceptable.” Once in handcuffs and on the ground, the officer goes on to demand the woman get up, even though she is handcuffed and on her stomach. When she is brought to her feet, she is visibly bloodied. A taser can also be heard going off in the video. RCMP said in a news release to the media that “In accordance with Saskatchewan RCMP policy, this incident has not been reported to SIRT given the non-serious nature of the injuries sustained by the woman arrested in this incident.” The release also stated that following an initial review of the incident, the force used by the officers involved was “determined to be reasonable.” RCMP outlined in the release what happened during the incident, which began around five a.m. Monday morning. “…Loon Lake RCMP officers responded to the report of a drug-impaired person on a street of Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, SK,” the release stated. “While responding, police officers observed an adult man wanted on warrant entering a residence of the same street…Police officers approached the residence and spoke with the house occupants at the door. Two wanted men were arrested at the door without incident. “During the arrest, a 40-year-old woman became confrontational and punched two police officers. Police officers told her to stop moving but she left the entrance area of the residence and went down the stairs. She was arrested outside the residence.” The three people arrested were taken to the detachment, “where the 40-year-old woman was seen by EMS for what was described as minor injuries,” the Mounties said. Lane Anthony Purves, 30, from Edmonton, who was wanted on a warrant from Swift Current RCMP for charges including theft, was arrested alongside Rayden Joe Kytwayhat, 28, from Makwa Sahgiahecan First Nation who was wanted on warrant from Loon Lake RCMP for charges including domestic assaults. Rose Georgina Angus, 40, has been charged with two counts of assault of a police officer, two counts, resisting a police officer, one count, obstructing a police officer and one count, possession of cocaine. Angus was to appear in Meadow Lake Provincial court on Tuesday. The RCMP noted in the release that when “police officers are required to intervene in a given situation, it is, by nature, a complex, dynamic and constantly evolving situation, often in a highly charged atmosphere. We recognize that any enforcement action can generate strong reactions and we take those concerns seriously.” Section 25 of theCriminal Codeprovides police officers with the ability to use force in the lawful execution of their duties, as long as they are acting on reasonable grounds. Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation chief and council provided a comment on their social media, saying they are aware of the video and the concerns it has raised within the community. “We understand that many people have found the video upsetting, and we recognize the emotions and questions that incidents such as this can create,” the post stated. “The safety, dignity, and respectful treatment of our members will always remain a priority. Chief and Council will be arranging a meeting with Sgt. Keewatin of the Loon Lake RCMP Detachment to discuss the incident, gather the facts, and address the concerns that have been raised.” The post goes on to ask the community to be patient while that process takes place. “We ask our community to please be patient while this process takes place. We are committed to getting answers, and we will share information with the community when appropriate,” it said. Chief and council also acknowledged “the work that resulted in the removal of two individuals, who were believed to be involved in gang activity, from the residence and from the community. Community safety remains a shared priority, and we appreciate the ongoing efforts to address criminal activity while ensuring all interactions are conducted professionally and respectfully.” Continue Reading
RCMP say reasonable force used in arrest of woman at Makwa Sagaiehcan First Nation on Monday
