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Unhoused Indigenous women in Yellowknife face policing issues: report

Yellowknife Women鈥檚 Society lays out 24 recommendations for the RCMP and policymakers at all levels of government
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A new study from the Yellowknife Women鈥檚 Society found that unhoused Indigenous women in the city are 鈥渁fraid of the RCMP鈥 and 鈥渙ften harmed by the RCMP,鈥 according to former executive director Neesha Rao. 黑料吃瓜网 file photo

A new research report from the Yellowknife Women鈥檚 Society (YKWS) has found that unhoused Indigenous women in the NWT capital are 鈥渙ver-policed and under-protected by the RCMP.鈥

鈥淲hat we heard is that there is a lot of urgency for all levels of government to take action on improving the relationship between the RCMP and unhoused Indigenous women,鈥 said Neesha Rao, a co-author of the report and former executive director of YKWS.

鈥淲hat we heard is that unhoused Indigenous women do not trust the RCMP. They鈥檙e afraid of the RCMP, and they鈥檙e often harmed by the RCMP, and they do not feel protected by the RCMP.鈥

The information in the 100-page report was collected in 鈥渟haring circles鈥 involving unhoused Indigenous women living in the city, who described being 鈥渁bused, dismissed and belittled by RCMP officers.鈥

Comments from community service providers, elected leaders and RCMP officers also informed the findings of the report.

While YKWS鈥檚 report asserted that there鈥檚 a major rift between police officers and unhoused Indigenous women in Yellowknife, it also identified 鈥済aps in much-needed services like mental health and housing in the NWT that directly contribute to a higher frequency of interactions between the RCMP and unhoused Indigenous women.鈥

The report laid out 24 recommendations intended to make Yellowknife a safer city for unhoused Indigenous women.

Some of those recommendations include:

-establishing a NWT police council with Indigenous co-governance

-improving the hours and capacity of a mobile and crisis response team

-expanding the community safety officers program in the NWT, including Yellowknife

-increasing the number of low-barrier emergency shelter spaces in the city

-enhancing and enforcing more mandatory training for RCMP officers in Yellowknife

-increasing the supply of shelter spaces and supportive housing to reduce contact with police

-providing in-territory, Indigenous-led mental health and addictions services and victim services to reduce contact with police

Rao is hopeful that the recommendations will be taken seriously by the RCMP and policymakers at all levels of government.

鈥淲e made 24 recommendations because this is a very complex issue,鈥 she said. 鈥淪imple steps like increasing housing, shelter services and funding for programs like [YKWS鈥檚] street outreach van would go a long way towards reducing the frequency of interaction between unhoused women and the RCMP, and it would also reduce harm.

鈥淥ne of the most important recommendations we鈥檝e made in terms of policing is we鈥檝e called for the Government of the Northwest Territories to conduct a review of policing in the territory and specifically in Yellowknife. They can follow the lead of Yukon, which has conducted a very similar review.

鈥淭hose are some very important first steps that could be taken in terms of making real action on improving the safety and well-being of unhoused Indigenous women living in Yellowknife.鈥

According to the report, 90 per cent of the unhoused population in Yellowknife is Indigenous, which stands in stark contrast to the fact that roughly a quarter of the city鈥檚 overall population is Indigenous.

The report included several quotes from anonymous unhoused women who shared their experiences with the researchers.

鈥淚鈥檝e been roughed up by three cops [at once],鈥 said one woman. 鈥淚鈥檓 not that big, you know? That鈥檚 ridiculous.鈥

Another woman added, 鈥淪eeing how rough the police are with people downtown, it鈥檚 just unnecessary for them to do that, [to be] that harsh.鈥

鈥淵ou get into a fight with somebody that abuses you downtown, it doesn鈥檛 matter, because you鈥檙e an alcoholic, [because you鈥檙e] Indigenous, because we鈥檙e homeless,鈥 a third woman said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e street people, we鈥檙e garbage, and that鈥檚 how they think.鈥

While it remains to be seen how YKWS鈥檚 report will be received by the RCMP and the government, Rao is optimistic that members of the community appreciate the urgency of the situation.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 get the impression that people are unaware,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 think that one of the best things about the North is how much emphasis we place on community.

鈥淚 am very optimistic that the community of Yellowknife 鈥 both Indigenous and non-Indigenous 鈥 wants to take care of members of our community who are unhoused, many of whom are residential school survivors, 鈥60s scoop survivors, the children of those survivors, and people who are currently living out the legacy of colonialism in the North.鈥

The RCMP is aware of YKWS鈥檚 report, according to spokesperson Cpl. Matt Halstead, but is 鈥渟till in the process of reviewing it.鈥

鈥淲e welcome any and all recommendations that have the intention of assisting us to provide improved policing services,鈥 he stated. 鈥淗owever, we need time to review and consider what recommendations have the ability to be adopted.鈥





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