Six Alberta First Nations chiefs call on RCMP for clarification of aboriginal offender statistic – Edmonton Journal

April 10, 2015

EDMONTON  -The Grand Chief of the Confederacy of Treaty Six Nations said she is “shocked” and “appalled” after RCMP revealed this week that in its review of solved cases of murdered aboriginal women, 70 per cent of the offenders are indigenous.

Bernice Martial, also chief of the Cold Lake First Nation, said she believes the information is “inaccurate and untrue” and she would like to see the RCMP’s methodology and data in its entirety.

“I know for a fact there are a lot of native men that are very respectful and to label them that way. Seventy per cent of what? The whole? All I want is answers, I want facts,” she said.

Martial and leaders from five other First Nations in Alberta held a joint news conference in Edmonton Friday afternoon after RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson confirmed the statistic to Martial in a letter made public on Thursday. Paulson sent the letter after Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Bernard Valcourt cited the 70 per cent figure in a private meeting with First Nations chiefs in Alberta last month.

Read More: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Alberta+First+Nations+chiefs+call+RCMP+clarification+aboriginal+offender+statistic/10962541/story.html