Since the end of August, six Indigenous people across Canada have lost their lives in events involving the RCMP – in just 11 days.
On Wednesday night, a vigil was held in downtown Montreal, to honour their lives and highlight the urgency to put a stop to the violence.
On Aug. 29, 31-year-old Jack Charles Piche from Clearwater River Dene Nation in Saskatchewan was walking on the 909 grid road off Highway 155 near Buffalo Narrows, when he was hit by an RCMP vehicle.
Since that incident occurred, five other tragedies have followed.
Other victims include 15-year-old Hoss Lightning from Samson Cree First Nation in Alberta, 39-year-old Tammy Bateman, 57-year-old Jason West, 31-year old Danny Knife, and Steven “Iggy” Dedam from Elsipotog First Nation in New Brunswick.
Tragedies like this are shedding a light on the injustices faced by Indigenous communities.
Earlier this week an emergency debate was held on Parliament Hill about this.
As the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaches on September 30th, as well as the 10th anniversary of the release of the findings from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), activists and community leaders say change is urgently needed.