A group of First Nation communities and First Nation organizations are filing a human rights complaint against the city’s police department.
In a news release issued to local media Monday afternoon, officials with Nishnawbe Aski Nation confirmed that they are moving ahead with the human rights application to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. Eabametoong, Nibinamik and Namaygoosisagagun First Nations, among other First Nation communities and organizations, are named specifically in the news release.
While not citing any specific examples, the news release states the human rights application is a response to the mistreatment and systematic racism in policing services by the Thunder Bay Police Service.
Nibinamik First Nations Chief Johnny Yellowhead is a relative of Adam Yellowhead, 65, whose death became a homicide investigation handled by the Thunder Bay Police Service.
The homicide sparked an internal investigation within the Thunder Bay Police Service after a fake and incomplete media release was accidentally emailed to news organizations labeling a suspect charged in the case as the “fresh breath killer.”
Officials with NAN confirmed the incident is part of the reason for the human rights claim.
Police were unaware of the claim when contacted by Dougall Media on Monday. NAN will hold a press conference Tuesday at 12 p.m.
