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Indigenous groups, leaders demand action in wake of B.C. police shooting death

Last Updated Mar 1, 2021 at 1:44 pm MDT

TOFINO, B.C. — The leaders of Indigenous groups in British Columbia are asking for answers over the police shooting death of a 28-year-old man in a community off the west coast of Vancouver Island over the weekend.

The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Pacheedaht First Nation and the First Nations Leadership Council say in a statement that they want an open and transparent investigation in to the death of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation man.

RCMP say two officers from the Tofino detachment were called to a home on the Opitsaht reserve on nearby Meares Island to locate a woman in distress on Saturday night.

Mounties allege an unspecified “interaction” took place in which one man was shot and killed, while another was taken into custody.

The Independent Investigations Office, which investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, has been called in.

The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council says an Indigenous person needs to be a part of the watchdog’s investigation and steps need to be taken taken to prevent police shootings of Indigenous people in the future.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 1, 2021.

The Canadian Press