Boushie solidarity march goes Tuesday
Yukoners wanting to show solidarity with Colten Boushie’s family and friends are encouraged to gather at noon Tuesday in downtown Whitehorse.
Yukoners wanting to show solidarity with Colten Boushie’s family and friends are encouraged to gather at noon Tuesday in downtown Whitehorse.
The “Justice for Colten” Whitehorse gathering joins one of many events that have been taking place in cities across the country. That includes one in Yellowknife over the weekend and a second one today.
Attendees have publicly expressed grief and anger after a reportedly all-white jury in Battleford, Sask. found Gerald Stanley, 56, not guilty in Boushie’s death on Friday evening.
Stanley had been facing a second-degree murder charge and could also have been convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Boushie, 22, was from the Red Pheasant Cree Nation. He was shot and killed by Stanley in August 2016 on his farm in Biggar, Sask.
According to media coverage, defence and prosecution witnesses gave conflicting stories during trial testimony over events that day.
But many following the case have expressed concerns with racism over how the case was handled, media coverage, and the verdict.
Some of Boushie’s family members are in Ottawa meeting with federal ministers over their concerns with the case.
Among those speaking out publicly against the verdict is Perry Bellegarde, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
On Friday evening he tweeted, “Justice was not found in the Court of Queen’s Bench in North Battleford today. We will never give up on justice for First Nations in Saskatchewan or anywhere else in Canada. Our Treaties are about maintaining peace and justice between Nations.”
Some federal ministers have also taken to Twitter to express condolences to Boushie’s family and state that Canada needs to do better in its treatment of Indigenous peoples.
They include Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Justice Minister and Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould, Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott and Carolyn Bennett, the minister Crown-Indigenous Relations.
But some Conservative MPs have condemned the Liberals for speaking publicly on the independent judicial decision, noting it could be appealed and is still technically before the courts.
Tuesday’s Whitehorse gathering is set to take place at the Healing Totem on Front Street. Details about the event have been posted on the Our Voices Facebook page.
Comments (37)
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to Juniper on Feb 18, 2018 at 12:50 pm
To Juniper Jackson: In the end it is about a 22 year old male being shot in the back of the head and no charges. This is unheard of. In Alberta there was a young man, 27 years old, whose dad had physically assaulted he, his mom and the whole family his whole life. The 27 year old son shot his dad in the back in the head. He got 4 years, the minimum sentence the judge said he could hand down and...it was not deemed self defence, due to the dad being shot in the back of the head.
In this case, there is no legal reason that Stanley was allowed to shoot him and not be charged. For the vigilantes who think Bouchie got what was coming to him, if Canada is governed that way we must all fear such vigilantism. I know I would not want my stuff stolen either and it is extremely frustrating and causes all kinds of hatred--but--would I shoot somebody when they stole my stuff? I think not. I value my life and my freedom (out of prison) more than that. Mr. Stanley must not think he is off the hook--this is just getting started.
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Juniper Jackson on Feb 17, 2018 at 10:54 am
To Manslaughter would be the minimum charge: YOU are the only person in all these posts to mention FN lives don't matter... What posters are saying is the skin color of these criminals doesn't matter.. People marched for a criminal? They sure did.. and that's probably why we have these criminals.. What do parents say when their kids come home with bags of electronics? TVs? Money..out at 3 a.m. running the streets.. what DO parents say? oh thanks, we needed a new 55 inch plasma TV? If my kids brought home a candy bar I was saying..where did you get that?
All of these young criminals have parents.. why aren't they jumping in there? The comment should have been.. stop drinking and stealing from people.. the comment was.. your life is worth more than a quad.. in the end.. what value did Cole Bouchies life have? Turned out to be subjective.
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Joe on Feb 16, 2018 at 6:14 pm
Death penalty for being a drunk passenger in a vehicle used for unsuccessful attempted theft. Better hope your teenage kids never find themselves in that situation. And you should be ashamed of your comments. Not the Canada I thought it was.
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We Won’t Call 911 on Feb 16, 2018 at 5:14 pm
There is a segment of our population that is using the legal system to their advantage. They openly taunt people to go ahead call the police because they know the court system will just tell them mommy and daddy didn’t love them enough and put them right back out on the street anyways.
Well I’ll tell you what, ordinary hard working law abiding Canadians are getting sick and tired of that hogwash and if I’m in this farmers position out in the country and someone comes on my property and is up to no good I don’t care what color they are, I’ll defend myself and my property too.
A lot of people have lost faith in the ability of the courts to deliver justice and if that makes us rednecks so be it. The next time someone decides they’re going to rob, trespass, or do a break and enter remember there might be someone there who doesn’t call 911.
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MIKE MADDER on Feb 16, 2018 at 3:41 pm
Sad to say but I disagree. You wake up to a truck load of intoxicated natives, whites, blacks, any colour, and one trying to steal your quad. Your job as a husband and a dad is to protect your home. So sorry. You made your bed, sleep in it and stop always being victims minimizing his part in his own death. May sound heartless but reality is heartless and at times the right decision.
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Manslaughter would be the minimum charge! on Feb 15, 2018 at 6:35 pm
We live in Canada, not in the gun toting States. You do not kill people due to trespassing or thievery on your property--you call the police and let them deal with it. Gerald Stanley should have been charged with manslaughter--he took a life, albeit it not premeditated, and nowhere in our criminal code does it say that you get to take somebody's life for any reason, especially the way this went down.... For those of you saying that Colten Bouchie got what was coming to him, you are the problem. Colten Bouchie wasn't driving or anything--when he came up from the back seat and tried to drive away, scared of Stanley with the gun, he was executed, shot in the back of the head. He hadn't threatened Stanley or given him reason to shoot him (3 shots were fired by the way.)
For some of you who like to drink and party, and your teenagers too, what would you do if your daughter or son got wrapped up into this? That would change things. Of course it is about race--why else would Saskatchewan courts be sending the message that civilians can execute each other if one pisses the other off? (and have no charges and get out on very light bail) Disgusting--even more disturbing are these horrible, cold comments, acting like FN lives don't matter. Appeal!!!
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Just Sayin' on Feb 15, 2018 at 4:30 pm
We have a march to show solidarity with the family...how about the families in Mt Mac that have had no closure? What about them?
I have a question, why is the Justice Minister, who is FN, meeting directly with the FN family? How are we supposed to believe the JM is representing all the arguments of Canadians? Is there going to be a meeting with Mr. Stanley's family? Very unlikely. It is so wonderful to see the elected Government of Canada perpetuating further segregation between society.. .. (sarcasm)
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Warlord on Feb 15, 2018 at 3:19 pm
Canada is a red neck racist country. That fact is flashing like a neon sign all over these posts, especially Pro baloney gringo and his mind reading comments after scanning the psyche of the jurors.
I thought it was illegal just to point a gun at someone. if you have a hand gun and you point it at someone and it goes off and kills them, you obviously haven't taken the firearms acquisition safety course. Stanley should have been charged at the least for a firearms offence. Why would you point a gun at someone in a vehicle? This is a shoot first ask questions later situation. Any other country East of Europe and this would be a blood vengeance course of justice for Stanley.
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Duane Gastant' Aucoin on Feb 15, 2018 at 2:09 pm
Not sure where some people are getting their fake news about Colten being awake & trying to rob from Stanley? Colten was passed out in the front passenger seat when he was shot & killed!
http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/gerald-stanley-trial-crown-continues-to-call-witnesses-son-sheldon-stanley-expected-on-stand
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Rick of the Universe on Feb 15, 2018 at 1:33 pm
When did this become A CLOCKWORK ORANGE reality ?
Roving gangs of thugs seem to be able to get away with anything.
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Ridiculous Bias in Mainstream Media on Feb 15, 2018 at 9:11 am
The PM and other politicians have zero right to comment on the outcome of a jury trial. this is such utter BS. A farmer defended his family and property from some thugs, one of the thugs got killed. The onus is on the thug.
This is what happens when it goes the other way. Check out the last name of the perp in this case.
https://www.producer.com/1994/11/murder-suspects-in-court/
One law for all.
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Josey Wales on Feb 14, 2018 at 10:53 pm
What a bunch of nonsense, political correct nonsense at that.
If you cannot defend yourself on your own property from armed, drunk thugs of any melanoma ratio then I guess we are hooped!
Perhaps he should have given them his gun, his cash, his vehicle, made them some bannock, refill their beverages, give them a deed to the farm?
Nothing quite like the bigotry of lower expectations, trespassing is ABSOLUTELY bleated on about traditionally speaking.
....and you get what we have here today, and tomorrow, and days and days after that.
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Dave on Feb 14, 2018 at 6:04 pm
At the rally a mother quoted by the News supposedly said she told her son he is d—- well more important than an ATV. I guess by some twisted logic that’s what some people take away from this tragedy...Here’s what I told my kids when they were growing up, be respectful of others and their possessions, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, be polite, say please and thank you. By instilling those values I raised four children who never had a run in with the law or been in trouble. The subject of being more important than an ATV on some strangers property never came up because they would never think of putting themselves in that position.
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really? on Feb 14, 2018 at 4:28 pm
Duane Gastant' Aucoin: Why was he there in the first place? If he wasn't there, trespassing, this would never have happened. He is not an innocent victim. He was a criminal to start with. He made the choice to get that drunk and hang out with those friends.
What if it was your property and belongings being violated? Your hard earned items.
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moose101 on Feb 14, 2018 at 3:36 pm
Duane about your comments that Colten was passed out drunk in the front seat and getting shot. Read the court transcript before making false statements Colten Boushie was in the back seat when the other two guys took off running he got up crawled over the seat and was revving the engine trying to drive away when Gerald Stanley reached in to turn off the ignition with his left hand and the gun was in his right hand. Colten Boushie was trying to drive away he was not passed out .
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Alan Boomer on Feb 14, 2018 at 2:53 pm
It would be nice to hear from someone on the jury. What instructions were they given and how were they coached by the judge.
Yes, it would have been nice to have aboriginal representation on the jury and at face value it seems odd that manslaughter was not the outcome rather than not guilty.
If you (or we) did not sit through the trial or sit on the jury, it's so easy to assume and rationalize the outcome while not understanding the evidence and instructions given prior to the jury's decision.
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Ex Prairie Dweller on Feb 14, 2018 at 11:41 am
I am somewhat familiar with the area. I have been told that at least 2 and maybe a couple more jurors are blue eyed blond haired treaty card carrying persons who do not reside on the reserve or in immediate area. It is not proper for the Court system to ID them like it is not proper for the politicians to stick their nose in these things. Certainly it is a tragedy, but criminals do not respect other people or their property and people are scared beyond being able to make rational spur moment decisions.
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So tired of this victim blaming on Feb 14, 2018 at 9:17 am
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this isn't a race thing. And that the PM or any elected official should be commenting at all.
And, why do we keep VICTIM blaming? Is it the farmer's fault these kids were trying to rob him and wreck HIS belongings?
This is all such bull___. I'm getting so tired of it.
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Duane Gastant' Aucoin on Feb 14, 2018 at 8:31 am
Colten Bouchie was passed out from drinking in the front seat when he was killed by being shot in the head by Gerald Stanley. So he was the innocent victim in this crime. It's the same if someone is passed out in a vehicle & the driver causes an accident. The passed out passenger is not guilty of the actions of the driver!
Colten is dead by the carelessness of Gerald...Gerald should have in the very least been charged with manslaughter.
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moose101 on Feb 14, 2018 at 7:53 am
http://www.newsoptimist.ca/news/local-news/credibility-of-witnesses-under-attack-at-stanley-trial-1.23162401
Read this what was actually said by witnesses in court while being questioned . I do not think the star reporter read what went on in the court room .
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ProScience Greenie on Feb 14, 2018 at 6:39 am
It is very troubling that our state broadcaster, the CBC is reporting that at the march, Shirley Adamson referred to the death of Boushie as a 'racist hate crime'.
To date, I have not seen any evidence that Stanley or any member of the jury in that trail were racists or involved in racist hate groups so in my opinion Adamson (and others) are crossing a line with that level rhetoric doing far more harm than good to the goal of reconciliation and fighting the very real racism that is coming at us from all directions.
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Joe on Feb 13, 2018 at 10:15 pm
What is wrong with you people. You should be ashamed of your comments. There should be an appeal of this case and an inquiry into the process.
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Juniper Jackson on Feb 13, 2018 at 8:43 pm
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/what-happened-stanley-farm-boushie-shot-witnesses-colten-gerald-1.4520214
750 potential witnesses called..that's a lot.. Every potential juror is screened for impartiality.
Someone asked me, was a life worth some possessions? Yes, it is.. If you are a criminal sooner or later you are going to run into someone who is willing and able to defend their right to keep things they have worked all their lives for. Come into my house? I don't know what you are going to do..I know you are already breaking the law..you're in MY house.. If I am scared enough and hit you with my bat..am I going to care if it's your knee or the back of your head? I don't think so..and if you die? Well, I don't have to worry about you in my house again do i? I too believe this case had nothing to do with racism.. but, our esteemed leader, PK (peoplekind) Trudeau sees racism everywhere, no color is safe from his accusations and presumptions..when you are a hammer you see nails everywhere..
If "Justice" is not going to be enforced in our court rooms, and we can not depend on police forces and judges to keep us safe..they leave law abiding people no options what so ever except to do their best to protect themselves.
There is a take away lesson here..and I hope these criminal youth can see what it is.
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Gordon Smith on Feb 13, 2018 at 8:36 pm
I'd like to see castle law revisited in Canada, this is a clear case of home invaders showing up with a loaded .22, intent on thievery and/or assault. There should not be a court case here.
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Just Sayin' on Feb 13, 2018 at 4:47 pm
Each counsel has the right to veto jurors. Plus, juries are to be unbiased. It is somewhat hard to remain unbiased when an issue transpires and one side is arguing it was racial biased. I am pretty sure the crown vetoed any redneck farmers also. Also, this story was all over the media so numerous people had already made up their minds in this case therefore, they could not be part of the jury.
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Ginger Johnson on Feb 13, 2018 at 3:52 pm
PFFFT - people are making a martyr out of a thief ?
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Groucho d'North on Feb 13, 2018 at 2:34 pm
What is justice? And more to the point, how is a just outcome decided and by who? Like most other contests, there is a winner who has a court decision go in their favour. While Canada’s court system is called the Justice system it is not about justice, rather it is about the law. Constitutional law as determined through legislative processes is the rule book used to determine guilt and to what degree. Case law is using the outcomes and processes of similar cases that were tried in the past, so that decisions do follow some form of similar logic. There is no similar set of rules to determine what justice is. Justice is in the eye of the beholder who ultimately decides from their point of view if justice was delivered.
The court process failed in its responsibility to demonstrate equality and fairness by selecting a jury that represents the community where the crime took place and where the court heard the case. But the issue of racism appears to be an additional sensitivity introduced by the aboriginal community as is often the case when an aboriginal person is across the table from a white person in legal matters. Racism is an accusation, and like justice is difficult to determine in most cases, however, lawyers on both sides must do their diligence and ensure that all jurors selected are reasonable people and do not bear any racial preferences. Seeing some of the comments made by aboriginal people before and following this case, I imagine the lawyers had a difficult time selecting a jury that did not demonstrate any racial bias in hearing the case. I imagine that is why the jury was selected as it was, but I was not there so I am only guessing.
Yes our court system needs to be more transparent and inclusive, and racism needs to be denied at each and every opportunity regardless of who is calling who racist. First Nations need to stop playing the racism card because it is doing you no favours.
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Damien Langkow on Feb 13, 2018 at 2:10 pm
Who's really the victim here? The guy who tried to rob the guy and wound up dead? Or the guy who was minding his own business on his own property when his life was overturned by some drunken hoodlums who were armed and think its ok to take things that aren't theirs?
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Darrell Drugstore's smartest neighbour on Feb 13, 2018 at 1:19 pm
SO - 4 uninvited drunks show up at his home and start vandalizing and trying to steal his equipment
What was "just trying to make a living" Farmer Stanley supposed to do ?
Hide in his basement and hope that the thieves would go away ?
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Damien Langkow on Feb 13, 2018 at 10:16 am
Read the whole story. This has nothing to do with racism. If a bunch of white people did the same thing and one got shot what would you say then? How can you even consider race playing a part in this? This man was minding his own business on his own property when these people showed up and tried to steal his quad and rummage through his vehicles. If they wouldn't have done this he would be alive today. Simple as that.
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My Opinion on Feb 12, 2018 at 9:40 pm
Are you kidding me? After all of the First Nations that have received reduced sentences, or none at all due to Gladue reports, FAS, Res School Synd, The big Scoop, Racism, Harsh Potty Training. Give me a break. I am fed up, and so is most of their community that does not see justice being done and criminals returned to their communities. The Justice system should stay out of politics and the Politicians should stay out of the Justice system.
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jc on Feb 12, 2018 at 8:55 pm
I've heard the victims side of the story, but so far not the defendant's. And I don't think the PM or elected officials have the right to comment on this. It was handled by the courts. And I am getting very tired and Teed off at whites always being accused of racism about everything as though only whites have that disease. There are a lot of answers that have to be addressed in this case and the media has the responsibility to give it to the public. They obviously know the other side and they should present it instead of one side. So, I will remain neutral until otherwise.
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BnR on Feb 12, 2018 at 7:22 pm
There are just too many "whys" in this case.
Why were the kids on someone else's property?
Why were they starting an ATV on that property?
Why did the farmer have an unsecured restricted weapon (it remains unclear whether he had a permit for it).
I'm not surprised he was not convicted of second degree murder, but manslaughter? Given the circumstances, I'm absolutely stunned he wasn't found guilty of the lesser charge.
Regardless, this is an ugly case that's really opening some painful wounds for all Canadians. Maybe some good will come of it.
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Won’t Be There on Feb 12, 2018 at 6:24 pm
Hey, a couple years ago a innocent native teenage girl was strangled to death in cold blood by a native boy in McIntyre and the perp got off with basically nothing. Where was the nation wide outrage over that? Where were all the Protests in downtown Whitehorse, or Ottawa, or anywhere else? Yeah, I know except for her family crying for Justice, crickets were all you heard about it from anyone else. So why the double standard where this guy in Saskatchewan rates protests across the country?
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north_of_60 on Feb 12, 2018 at 6:11 pm
While comments like "reportedly all-white jury" and the tone of this article does its best to stoke fears of racism in the jury, it neglects one very important aspect of Canadian law. If the court cannot convict an individual beyond a reasonable doubt, then it must deliver an acquittal. That's all this is. A jury could not find a person guilty of second-degree murder or manslaughter since there is not enough evidence to prove it.
What the court DID hear is that four very-intoxicated young men drove onto a private residence with the intention of committing a crime. A loaded 22 caliber modified rifle was recovered in the vehicle. If there is any speculation to be had in this matter, it would be “What IF” Stanley didn't defend his family that day? Stanley shouldn't have been firing bullets like firecrackers to intimidate the four adults who swarmed his farm that afternoon, but then again, he and his family should never have been subject to such criminal activity.
Some of Boushie’s family members tried to excuse the men's actions with comments stating that like a lot of young people they had been drinking. That's not acceptable; willful intoxication is never a valid reason to commit crimes.
The clear bias of this reporter should be expressed in an editorial, not in a news article.
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moose101 on Feb 12, 2018 at 5:17 pm
How can you support this. Yes it was a tragedy but they were all very intoxicated, they all lied and changed their stories from original statements to what they said in court.
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ProScience Greenie on Feb 12, 2018 at 3:05 pm
Besides urging people not to overreact, no politician of any political stripe should have commented in any way about the outcome of the trial. Wrong that some did so.
It is odd that no FN persons were on the jury. Perhaps current jury selection methods do need to be studied and changes made to ensure more fair and balanced selection of peers while at the same time ensuring that justice remains 'blind'.
Seems to have been some major flaws in the trial re: reliability of witnesses. Not sure what that was all about. While driving around back roads, drinking heavily and shooting gophers is common all across the Prairie provinces by all kinds of people, doing so to the point of passing out and/or being hardly able to remember what happened doesn't make for good solid witness statements.
Lots of people are claiming Stanley was a racist and some are claiming the jurists were also racists. Without solid proof of that it is very wrong to make such claims. Stereotyping of any sort isn't helping make the world a better place.
Speaking of racism, both during and after the trail, it is coming from all directions and all of it is ugly.
No winners in this case no matter how you look at it.