tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972812298831312750.post2375603672653707529..comments2023-11-05T02:56:55.778-06:00Comments on At the Edge of Canada: Indigenous Research: Gang Graffiti Serving as Utilitarian Tags vs Traditional Graffiti & Tags of WinnipegRobert-Falcon Ouellettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385008965067466414noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972812298831312750.post-10186802072435931092014-02-20T14:46:07.131-06:002014-02-20T14:46:07.131-06:00Robert Ouellette describes the in depth discussion...Robert Ouellette describes the in depth discussion held with novelist Elizabeth Comack, author of Racialized Policing: Aboriginal Peoples Encounters with the Police. In her book Comack identifies the systemic racism Aboriginal peoples encounter from police. This discrimination culminates in the covertly active practice of a ‘starlight tour’, in which police detain pedestrian, usually a homeless person or an intoxicated pedestrian, drive them to the edge of the city and drop them off to walk the long distance back home. This practice was open to inquest when, in 2003 the provincial government launched an investigation into the death of 17-year-old Neil Stonechild (CTV News Saskatoon).<br /><br /> Comack further identifies the racial profiling of police officers by drawing on evidence from recent local history and independently conducted interviews with Aboriginal peoples from the core of their experiences with police. Comack suggests a complete restructuring of the organization of policing to reveal any amount of positive change for Aboriginal peoples and their relationship with police officers. <br /><br /> Although I agree with Comack’s restructuring approach, I believe that a more grassroots movement must be implemented foremost. As an effort to combat this systemic racism against Aboriginals, police officers in Winnipeg need to reach out to communities where this negative association with police is being perpetuated. People in these communities need to feel that they can trust police officers, yet how is this possible when perpetuated racialization is still an undertone to their daily lives? Relationships need to be built between citizens and officers to form resilience against violent crime in core communities. Police officers must do more outreach programs in schools, community centres and public events to show that they are a valuable resource to be used and appreciated, not feared and despised. If a positive relationship is formed between local officers and community members this form of systemic racialization may be eliminated in the future generations. <br /><br />http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/police-investigate-allegation-of-starlight-tour-1.1124716Rosalie Girouardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06003776847403343955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972812298831312750.post-25065837635352146612013-09-10T21:49:57.005-05:002013-09-10T21:49:57.005-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.spirchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13900261785136302103noreply@blogger.com