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Canada
First Nation wants more law enforcement on reserve


Leaders of the Norway House First Nation in Manitoba want more law enforcement on the reserve after an inquest into the death of a Native man was critical of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The RCMP currently has 13 staff on the reserve. But Chief Marcel Balfour and the tribal council say that's not enough to address the needs of the 7,000 people who live there.

The inquest criticized the RCMP for understaffing and underfunding on reserves. When Dennis St. Paul, 28, was fatally shot by a RCMP officer in January 2005, there was no senior officer stationed at Norway House.

"Norway House citizens are at greater risk of having less effective law enforcement and personal safety due to the understaffing of the RCMP detachments," Judge Brent Stewart said.

Get the Story:
Native leaders add voices to call for more RCMP (CBC 7/20)
Inquest slams RCMP 'understaffing, underfunding' on reserves (CBC 7/19)

Inquest Report:
Death of Dennis St. Paul (July 2006)

Related Stories:
Police fatally shoot Native man on Manitoba reserve (01/07)