BC First Nations Leadership Council welcomes the appointment of Mr. Justice William H. Davies to lead inquiry into the death of Frank Paul
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 9, 2007
BC First Nations Leadership Council welcomes the appointment of Mr. Justice William H. Davies to lead inquiry into the death of Frank Paul
Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, BC - The B.C. Assembly of First
Nations, First Nations Summit, and Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs welcome
today's announcement by B.C. Solicitor General John Les, that Mr.
Justice William H. Davies has been appointed to lead the public
inquiry into the death of Frank Paul.
"We welcome the appointment of an eminent jurist, former B.C. Supreme
Court Justice Davies to lead this important public inquiry into the
tragic death of Frank Paul", said Grand Chief Edward John, member of
the First Nations Summit political executive and the First Nations
Leadership Council.
"We expect to be fully involved in the development of the inquiry's
terms of reference as it is critical for us to ensure the family of
Frank Paul and aboriginal people have the appropriate standing", added
Chief John.
"We are looking forward to working closely with Mr. Davies in our
collective efforts to reconcile the relationship between First Nations
and the justice system," said Shawn Atleo, B.C. AFN Regional Chief and
member of the First Nations Leadership Council. "We hope his work will
finally provide closure to the family of Frank Paul, by providing them
answers to questions they have been asking for almost ten years."
"Many, many individuals, aboriginal organizations, and human rights
groups marched and lobbied for a full public inquiry into the tragic
death of Frank Paul. Therefore, we need to ensure the public inquiry
is fully empowered to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the
conduct of all police, corrections, and Provincial government
officials involved in the Frank Paul tragedy," said Grand Chief
Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and
member of the First Nations Leadership Council.
Frank Joseph Paul, a Mi'kmaq m an, died of hypothermia in December
1998 shortly after being released by the Vancouver police department
into an east Vancouver alley.
The First Nations Leadership Council ultimately hopes the public
inquiry will further help to provide closure for Mr. Paul's family by
answering the many questions that remain regarding the circumstances
of his death. The inquiry provides an opportunity to determine
recommendations on provincial policing practices involving, and
relating to, First Nations and Aboriginal peoples, as well as
reconciliation measures between First Nations and the Crown in the
area of policing.
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The First Nations Leadership Council is comprised of the political
executives of the First Nations Summit, Union of BC Indian Chiefs and
the BC Assembly of First Nations. The Council works together to
politically represent the interests of First Nations in British
Columbia and develop strategies and actions to bring about significant
and substantive changes to government policy that will benefit all
First Nations in British Columbia.
For more information:
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC: (250) 490-5314
Colin Braker, First Nations Summit: (604) 926-9903
Heather Gillies, BC Assembly of First Nations: (604) 922-7733
The UBCIC is a NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic
and Social Council of the United Nations
Special thanks to Marcel Guay, First Nations Skyvillage news
Contents
March 2007 Reports
Last updated on March 14, 2007