Allegations against SQ officers fair game at Indigenous inquiry, commissioner rules

After dancing around the issue for the first three days of hearings, the allegations that SQ officers sexually and physically abused Aboriginal women in Val-d'Or were front and centre Thursday at the inquiry into relations between Indigenous people and Quebec's justice system.

dithCloutier, the head of the Native friendship centre in Val-d'Or, paid tribute during her testimony to the women who originally came forward with the allegations that eventually led to the inquiry.

"Priscilla, Angela, Bianca, Joyce, Manu, Bernadette, Josephine, Cheryline, Nadia, Alicia, Kathy et June:these women collectively broke the silenceand publicly denounced the abuse and violence they suffered at the hands of police," Cloutier said.

The Quebec government launched the inquiry last December, a year after CBC/Radio-Canada reported several Indigenous women said they'd been physically and sexually abused by provincial police officers stationed inVal-d'Or.

Those allegations were investigated by Montreal policeand ultimately, Crown prosecutors didn't lay any charges.

Lawyer for SQ officers objects

As Cloutierbegan discussing the allegations in more detail, David Coderre, the lawyer representing the association of provincial police officers, objected strenuously.

"The goal of the commission is not to redo the criminal investigation," Coderre said.

Commissioner Jacques Viensacknowledged that it was not the mandate of the inquiry to redo the investigation, but he said that didn't mean witnesses couldn't discuss the allegations.

"We can't disregard the narrative of the circumstances that couldbe related by the women concerned by these events," Viens ruled.

He added that at this stage the inquiry was simply "setting the table,"but since it's highly likelythe allegations will be raised again, he wanted to ensure witnesses could speak freely.

Problems accessing services

Earlier in the day, the head of Quebec's Association of Native Friendship Centres testified racism and discrimination make it difficult for Indigenous people living off reserve to access basic services in health care, education and the justice system.

"'If Aboriginal people have to get arrested to access public services, that's a problem," Tanya Sirois said.

Siroissaid 53 per cent of Indigenous people in the province live in towns and cities off reserve.

She said those people often face discrimination in interactions with government services.

"It's very insidious, racism and discrimination.It could be just a comment or a look, and that can be enough to discourage someone from trying to access such services again," Sirois said.

"You're not likely to seek out help or protection from police or the justice system when you receive a contradictory message about the way the system views Aboriginal people," she said.

Language barrier

Language is often the first barrier to accessing service for those livingoff reserve,Siroissaid, adding that many who come to towns and cities don't speak French at all, or are more at ease in English.

"There's no obligation for the province to offer them services in English," Sirois said.

When Indigenous people can't communicate effectively with police or doctors, they sometimes don't bother to seek out help when they need it, she said.

Ignorance of Indigenous realities

Philippe Meilleur, the secretary-treasurer of the association, told the inquiryignorance of Indigenous history and culture also plays a role in discrimination.

Meilleur said in conversations he'd had with police officers in Quebec, he was surprised by their level of ignorance aboutthe legacy of residential schools in the province.

"Often what I heard was,'That was in the west, wasn't it? Not here in Quebec,'" Meilleur said.

The association also pointed out that most people who work in the justice system, from judges to prosecutors to prison guards, receive little or no training on Indigenoushistory and culture.

Meilleur said hiring more Aboriginal people to work in the civilserviceand ensuring public servants are trained could help make the system fairer.

More coverage of the inquiry:

• 'Our women don't believe in justice': Fear of police not going away in Lac Simon