RCMP to learn about Natives

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Cardston RCMP officers have been ordered to attend a Native orientation workshop after a recent human rights investigation over discriminatory practices against a Blood Indian ended in an out of court settlement.

Rene Tallow, a Blood band member who was paid $1,500 in compensation, received a written apology and the assurance that a workshop would be conducted. The settlement came after Tallow complaint with the Human Rights Commission over the abuse treatment he had received at the hands of the Cardston RCMP.

According to Robert Bonner, an Ottawa human rights conciliator, details of the settlement cannot be released because "it's not in the public interest." However, Tallow, who was willing to talk to Windspeaker, said he had been told that RCMP must "attend a workshop within 60 days." He added that he is not aware of any similar workshops being conducted in the Cardston area.

However, Tallow is unhappy over the fact that the workshop will only be held once.

"I think it could be (workshops) with all the detachments in Canada," he said, adding that information workshops should become part of regular RCMP training because "recruits have no knowledge of being around Natives. They should at least give them some kind of information to prepare them for different cultures."

Human Rights official, Harold Burden, who investigated the Tallow complaint, conducts similar workshops and says such seminars are constructive and can change people's attitudes and opinions about Natives' cultural values and social problems.

Burden says the Tallow case, which is now over two years old, may be the first of its kind to be won by a southern Alberta Native.

The discrimination charge came after Tallow broke his leg while drinking. He went to the Cardston hospital where he refused pain killing pills because of possible side effects. A request that a doctor freeze the leg was denied and Tallow began yelling, said Burden. This prompted a call to RCMP who arrested him for "causing a disturbance."

After being placed in a cell Tallow again complained of the pain and made a request to a guard to summon the RCMP. One guard made some "derogatory statements about Native people," explained Burden adding that the comments were witnessed by other inmates.

"If it had been a white guy in a similar situation, I don't think it would have been that way," said Burden.

Very few incidents come to the commission's attention because Natives do not come forward, mostly because many do not relate to non-Natives, he added.

Tallow is an exception to the rule. When he first complained to the RCMP he received a letter of apology. However, he took a further step and complained to the Human Rights Commission as well.

"Too much of that happens with these police and it's about time something was done . . . to make them realize that they can't treat Indian people like that anymore," he said.