Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong is concerned that there is a growing rift between Indigenous women and members of the .

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 not enough trust,SA国际影视传媒� she told SA国际影视传媒 on April 9. SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of trust has been broken.SA国际影视传媒�

Weyallon Armstrong, who represents the four Tlicho communities of Behchoko, Whati, Gameti and Wekweeti, first broached her concern about the distrust between some Indigenous women and NWT police during the Feb. 29 session of the legislative assembly.

She contended at the time that, over the years, women in her communities have told her stories about mistreatment at the hands of the , including SA国际影视传媒渉aving their hair pulledSA国际影视传媒� and their SA国际影视传媒渨rists fractured by excessive use of force.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 happening,SA国际影视传媒� she added in April. SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e being mishandled.SA国际影视传媒�

Beyond the risk of physical injury, Weyallon Armstrong noted that negative interactions with the police officers can be SA国际影视传媒渢riggeringSA国际影视传媒� for many Indigenous women thanks to the lasting legacy of residential schools and colonialism.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of unresolved issues, a lot of unresolved trauma,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲hen [Indigenous women] are having an encounter with a law officer, a lot of those things come back.SA国际影视传媒�

These alleged incidents also make Indigenous women reluctant to call the police when they experience issues that would typically involve police intervention, the MLA said, noting that SA国际影视传媒渁 lot of times people donSA国际影视传媒檛 report anything.SA国际影视传媒�

She also contended that it can be quite worrying for Indigenous women when their friends and family have interactions with the police.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen their kids are sleeping in the drunk tank overnight, [they wonder] are they going to come out alive?SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎re things going to be OK?

SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of parents are fearful.SA国际影视传媒�

Weyallon Armstrong emphasized that SA国际影视传媒渢here are good SA国际影视传媒� officers serving the NWT who want to SA国际影视传媒渉elp and work with Indigenous people.SA国际影视传媒� She contended that the alleged incidents sheSA国际影视传媒檚 heard about typically involve younger officers who are newer to the region, and that female officers can be just as SA国际影视传媒渂rutalSA国际影视传媒� as their male counterparts.

SA国际影视传媒淭he younger ones, they donSA国际影视传媒檛 really understand our culture,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he older ones, I think theySA国际影视传媒檙e starting to see because theySA国际影视传媒檝e been in the force for a long time, so they really understand, but the new, young that are coming in, itSA国际影视传媒檚 different.SA国际影视传媒�

Weyallon Armstrong is aware that officers in the NWT undergo SA国际影视传媒渟ensitivity training and cultural training.SA国际影视传媒� However, she wonders how much of the material relayed in that training is really being absorbed.

SA国际影视传媒淎re they really taking in that information, or is it going in one ear and out the other? I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think itSA国际影视传媒檚 happening,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The MLA would like to see new officers in the NWT undergo additional training, and also believes itSA国际影视传媒檚 crucial for those officers to work as closely as possible with their communities in an effort to rebuild trust.

SA国际影视传媒淭he needs to have a good, working relationship with the communities,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey need to be more involved in what [Indigenous] people are doing.

SA国际影视传媒淚nteract with the people. Interact in a positive term, instead of negatively, thinking that because a community is rough and tough, you have to come in with a negative attitude.SA国际影视传媒�

She added that she would like to see more Indigenous people, specifically Indigenous women, hired into roles with the .

SA国际影视传媒淲e will really benefit from that,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e havenSA国际影视传媒檛 had too many [Indigenous officers]. If we have that, they will teach each other.SA国际影视传媒�

One way or the other, the Monfwi MLA wants the women in the communities she represents to know that she is listening, and that she will help them however she can.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are here for them, and we do sympathize with them,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淒onSA国际影视传媒檛 be silent.SA国际影视传媒�

The declined to respond to Weyallon ArmstrongSA国际影视传媒檚 concerns, citing the need to a review a 100-page research report from the Yellowknife WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Society (YKWS), which contends that unhoused Indigenous women in the city are SA国际影视传媒渙ver-policed and under-protected by the .SA国际影视传媒�

Weyallon ArmstrongSA国际影视传媒檚 comments and the YKWS report are SA国际影视传媒渋ntertwined,SA国际影视传媒� spokesperson Cpl. Matt Halstead said, and a response to both will be made when the report has been SA国际影视传媒渇ully considered.SA国际影视传媒�