Heiltsuk Nation ‘disheartened’ by VPD officers’ no-show at apology after BMO arrest

The failure of two Vancouver police officers to show up at an apology ceremony at the Heiltsuk Nation is being questioned by its elected chief.

A ceremony set for Monday night was supposed to see Maxwell Johnson and his family get an official apology from VPD constables Canon Wong and Mitchel Tong.

In a statement Monday, Heiltsuk Elected Chief Marilyn Slett said she is “disappointed and disheartened” by the officers’ decision not to attend the apology ceremony.

“This was meant to mark the beginning of a new relationship between Heiltsuk Nation, [Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs], and the Vancouver Police Board working together to address systemic racism in policing,” she said.

Maxwell Johnson and family host Uplifting Ceremony in Bella Bella, VPD Constables not in attendance: “It is a prerequisite that they show respect for our customs and engage with our communities. Why would the officers think it’s ok to not attend tonight’s ceremony” Chief Marilyn pic.twitter.com/xuhm7XLZQh

— UBCIC (@UBCIC) October 24, 2022

During an interview with CityNews, Chief Slett said she wasn’t provided a reason for the officers’ not choosing to attend.

“We were hopeful that they would attend and up until [Sunday] night we knew that there was space on the charters that were coming up here to Bella Bella. They could have still made a decision as late as [Sunday] night to attend,” she added.

Although Slett says she isn’t jumping to any conclusions as to why the constables’ aren’t making the trip.

“I don’t want to assume why they didn’t come up, but you know, it is a ceremony that is for everyone. It’s definitely for Max and his granddaughter to move forward in the healing process, but it’s also reciprocal for everyone that was involved in the incident.

“It could have been a real positive step in terms of reconciliation on this incident.”

When asked what she would say the two officers if she could speak to them directly, Slett said “I would say that the door is never closed, I mean, that’s not what our healing process and our culture has. So, if it ever comes to the time that they do want to reach out and do want to meet us in person and have this conversation and be able to do this collectively, we will always have our door open.”

On Dec. 20, 2019, Maxwell Johnson and his 12-year-old granddaughter were handcuffed by Wong and Tong outside a Downtown Vancouver Bank of Montreal after a worker claimed they produced “fraudulent Indian Status cards.”

Johnson filed a human rights complaint against the two officers, resulting in a retired judge finding the two constables “acted oppressively” and committed professional misconduct, according to a report published in April of this year.

The Heiltsuk Nation and Vancouver Police Board also recently came to a settlement agreement worth $100,000 over the human rights complaint.

The Nation learned on Sunday that the two constables were not likely to show up based on a list of Vancouver Police Board members who were making the trip to Bella Bella for the ceremony.

Read More: Heiltsuk Nation says key VPD officers may not attend apology ceremony for handcuffing man and granddaughter

“The Constables’ lack of willingness to walk alongside us and respect our traditions is a continuation of the discrimination that police have shown toward Indigenous people in the past,” Slett said on Monday.

Chief Slett made it clear when speaking to CityNews, the ceremony was not about shaming anyone.

“It’s not about making anybody feel bad. It’s quite the opposite, It’s [about] healing and moving forward and doing that collectively.”

But the elected chief did question Mayor-elect Ken Sim’s plan to hire 100 new VPD officers.

“If existing officers are unwilling to attend a traditional apology ceremony to satisfy their disciplinary penalties, and if the Police Board as their employer appears to be unable to address this refusal, why are we expanding this institution? Why expand an institution that cannot or will not advance justice and reconciliation, or take responsibility for its actions?” she asked.

Heiltsuk protocols do not allow for people to stand in place of others during an apology ceremony, as all parties involved must be present, the Nation says.

Related articles: 

• Indigenous man arrested with granddaughter at Vancouver BMO files human rights complaint

• Arrest of Indigenous girl, grandfather at Vancouver BMO prompts investigation, mayor demands accountability

• BMO apologizes after Indigenous 12-year-old girl and grandfather reported to police by staff

After learning the officers would not attend the ceremony, Johnson said in a statement Sunday, “the weight of that traumatic incident will remain on me and my family.”

“We will need to find new strength to bear it as we move forward,” he said.

The Vancouver Police Board says its members and members of the Vancouver Police Department who will attend the ceremony represent its commitment to stand together with the First Nation against discrimination.

Instead of an apology ceremony, Heiltsuk leadership will hold an “uplifting ceremony and feast” for the Johnson family.

A live stream of the ceremony will be run on the Heiltsuk Nation’s website.

With files from Emily Marsten, Renee Bernard, Martin MacMahon, and The Canadian Press.