NAN Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum (Submitted Photo)
The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is commenting on the final report, stating its disappointment with the lack of change with the Thunder Bay Police Service and its board through the report.
The organization which represents 49 first nations in Northwestern Ontario was involved in the public consultations, submitting recommendations to the expert panel over the past year.
Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum says the report shows how leadership with police continues to refuse to accept responsibility for its failures.
“Inadequate investigations, mishandling of cases, and failure to address urgent issues are not a result of being under-funded, they are a result of failure of leadership.”
NAN states more than 550 recommendations have been made since 1993, with very little work being done to implement them. It believes the path forward must begin with remorse and acceptance of responsibility, and that both senior management and the board recognized the warning it can no longer continue with the status quo.
Achneepineskum adds while the report does indicate more is needed from higher levels of government, the blame cannot continue to be passed on to them or other entities.
“I agree that funding is an underlying issue, but it is not the cause of all of the challenges this Service is facing.”
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