North Side

[ScrappyPeg]

I think I would draw the line at having a separate justice system for aboriginals. Yes, culture plays a role in peoples attitudes etc., but the legal system we have in place is for all Canadian's - those born here and those not.
You can't ask to be full members of society and to be treated equal when you have special systems set up just for you (you, being a certain race).

[vid]

We have a court system for Ontarians and a court system for Albertans and so on. Why not a court system for the First Nations? It won't be something that applied to just aboriginals or something that is above the provincial courts. It would apply to their territory and be of equal stature to the other provincial courts. If a white person commits a crime on First Nation territory, they would be prosecuted in the First Nations court, which will simply be one of Canada's various lower courts of justice, one that just happens to have a strong influence from aboriginal tradition.

A system like that would still be subject to the ultimate authority of the Supreme Court. It would be part of a system of self-governance for First Nations (at a level equal to provinces) which would include regional and national level assemblies elected by all constituents over 18, not just band chiefs.

[hexrae]

I see what you're saying. "A Feather, not a Gavel" is on my bookshelf and shares the same views you post, but it's lessons will always be questioned by those outside the culture. I do see a place for it though, and it's not a "separate race, separate justice system"/black and white(no grey) issue that those that don't understand seem to pin it as.

[Only The Lonely..]

A busy weekend in the North End, here's some of the headlines..

Police release name of woman killed at wedding reception
By: Jen Skerritt - Winnipeg Free Press | 26/07/2009 1:40 PM

A wedding reception in the North End turned into a nightmare late Saturday when a gunman sprayed bullets into a Main Street club, killing Cheryl Robert and wounding two other guests.

Police said the gunman fired indiscriminately at the crowd from outside an open rear door.

The gunfire struck Robert, 50, of Winnipeg, in the upper body as she and her common-law husband, 50, perused raffle prizes. The man was treated in hospital for non life-threatening injuries to his upper and lower body and a 31-year-old woman was treated in hospital for non life-threatening injuries to her upper body.

No arrest has been made in connection with the shooting and police have not released any description of a suspect.

Anyone with information about the shooting or the suspect is asked to contact the homicide unit at 986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 786-TIPS (8477).

The terrifying incident occurred at about 11:15 p.m. at Club 13 – a hall where newlyweds witnesses identified as "Jason and Angel" exchanged vows and were to celebrate with a blowout party with a couple of hundred friends and family.

Instead, Main Street was abuzz with swarms of police cruisers who taped off the immediate area and loaded about 70 wedding guests onto city transit buses to take statements.

The bride’s brother Trevor Raven said his sister is "traumatized" by the violence that erupted on her wedding day.

The distraught bride stood outside the club in her white gown, before police escorted her past the yellow tape to a nearby cruiser.

"We just heart the gunshots and she went down. Then the guy – he got hit and he (slumped) over," said Raven, who was standing next to the woman who was shot.

Raven’s wife Sheila Sinclair ran over to check the woman’s pulse and said another guest started to administer CPR before paramedics arrived.

Stunned guest Gail Kwyeriga said she first mistook the sound of gunfire for balloons popping, and ducked to the floor when she realized people were hurt.

"I just wanted to know where my kids were. We all huddled down on the floor," Kwyeriga said.

A bullet grazed the back of another woman’s leg. Sandra, who preferred to keep her last name anonymous, lifted up a pant leg to reveal a red burn hole from the shot that struck her leg.

"I felt it and I knew I was shot," she said. "It just burned. I was freaking out. I didn’t know what was happening."

Were you at the wedding reception? Did you see the shooting, or take photos or video? Email the Free Press at


city.desk@freepress.mb.ca or phone 697-7292.

Man shot leaving North End party
By: Staff Writer - Winnipeg Free Press | 26/07/2009 2:05 PM

WINNIPEG - A 29-year-old man is in hospital after being shot while leaving a party in the North End Saturday morning, police say.

Police say the man was leaving a residence in the 400 block of McKenzie Street with a friend at 3:15 a.m., when the two were approached en route to their vehicle by an unknown person or persons. The man was shot in the lower body.

Related ItemsArticlesPolice release name of woman killed at wedding reception
Search fails to turn up reported man with weapon
The man was taken to hospital by friends with non life-threating injuries, police said.

The incident remains under investigation.

Shooting at drug raid sends man to hospital
By: Staff Writer - Winnipeg Free Press | 24/07/2009 10:44 AM

WINNIPEG — A man is in hospital after being shot during a drug raid at a North End home this morning.

The incident occurred in the 300 block of Mountain Avenue, and several cruisers from the Winnipeg police street crime unit were still present at the scene at 9:30 a.m.

One neighbour said he saw police use a battering ram to enter the home, and heard several shots being fired.

He said the house was occupied by a man in his 40s who lived with his son and common-law partner, but didn't know who was shot.

He also said the home was a hub for drug activity.

"I've heard through friends that they're selling everything from weed to pills to crack," he said.

city.desk@freepress.mb.ca

[1ajs]

Wtf?

[Only The Lonely..]

Sounds like Mayor Katz better turn on the Bat signal.

[drew]

Originally Posted by vid

People living on the reserves aren't allowed to own the homes they live in. It is federal law that the homes all be owned by the band and rented to them. That has to change.

Maybe this was true in the past, but from my experience very few people on reserves rent their houses. I think that CMHC might be tying their funding for new houses to a rental program, but don't quote me on that.

Whether or not the government is trying to mandate rental schemes for First Nations, the real problem is that any council in power would likely experience political suicide trying to bring in a rental policy.

There is a program in place where CMHC or INAC will give the reserves a lump sum of around $25k to renovate houses to sell to residents, but I don't think this is a popular program.

Forcing rent on First Nations sounds great, but again it highlights the problem of poverty and lack of jobs/industry on many reserves. People simply don't have the money.

[Only The Lonely..]

Originally Posted by drew

Maybe this was true in the past, but from my experience very few people on reserves rent their houses. I think that CMHC might be tying their funding for new houses to a rental program, but don't quote me on that.

Whether or not the government is trying to mandate rental schemes for First Nations, the real problem is that any council in power would likely experience political suicide trying to bring in a rental policy.

There is a program in place where CMHC or INAC will give the reserves a lump sum of around $25k to renovate houses to sell to residents, but I don't think this is a popular program.

Forcing rent on First Nations sounds great, but again it highlights the problem of poverty and lack of jobs/industry on many reserves. People simply don't have the money.

The even better question is why you would want to buy property on some remote reserve in the first place?

From an investment standpoint it makes no sense.

Its not like there's tons of buyers lining up to move to Oxford House these days.

[grumpy old man]

There is this argument that housing on reserves is in such piss-poor condition because the residents don't care for the property because they don't own it. The argument is such that were they to actually own it they'd take are of it.

Personally I don't buy that argument simply because if they don't take pride in it and care for it under one scenario why would they under another?

Indians claim they have this pride in their culture and that it should be protected. Why does that pride then not extend into their residences?

[hexrae]

Originally Posted by grumpy old man

Indians claim they have this pride in their culture and that it should be protected. Why does that pride then not extend into their residences?

Those proud of their culture and those who don't upkeep their residences aren't necessarily in the same subset of Native people. It can be argued that those who don't upkeep their homes are in fact not proud, or lost culturally.

[vid]

Neglect of property is a symptom of poverty. Many poor people simply don't bother to maintain their homes. Especially when the problems are overwhelming, like mould or structural problems, things that can't be fixed easily.

[Only The Lonely..]

Seriously, Doer or Katz needs to call in the Military to patrol the North End.

Crime in this part of town is out of control.

Victim shot in North End

By: Staff Writer - Winnipeg Free Press | 31/07/2009 9:11 PM

Someone reportedly suffered a gunshot wound in the North End at about 8 p.m.


The victim, who is believed to have been shot on the street or sidewalk on Alfred Avenue near Parr Street, was dropped off by car at hospital.


Police were looking for a suspect.

[1ajs]

police are working on it i have herd some big rumblings just watch

[thegreattait]

Another blow to the core of the north end.

Some of you might remember the little girl in the Winnipeg Free Press article a while back that saved the dog that was burned alive in a dumpster. Well while playing on the front steps of her house she was recently beaten by a local kid walking by. Keep in mind that this is a fenced in area and that this young girl was quietly minding her own business trying to enjoy one of the few nice summer days.

With this lattest incident her caring and loving father has decided that it is best for the safety of his daughter that they move to a safer area of the city. This hardworking father now has to uproot his family from a home that he likes because of the senseless violence and a lack of respect for fellow human beings.

This incident along with a break in to the garage on this property where a sledge hammer was used in broad daylight to break open a reinforced boarded up window and solid wood door, was the last straw that push this family to move.

Keep in mind this fellow had great concern for the area and had been in assistance in shutting down a neighboring crack house twice and also keeping a vigilant eye out for his fellow neighbors. He took great pride in keeping the property neat and tidy and was a positive agent of change for the area.

It is the loss of individuals like these that prevent the area from turning around. I completely understand why he would move but I ask myself if this neighborhood in its current state can push away a man that was this determined to make things better then what hope is there for this neighborhood if the status quo is not changed.

Is a police foot patroll maybe necessary in these parts?
Should the city be even more aggressive in tearing down unkept houses and more strongly enforcing property by-laws dealing with maintenance of the property and city boulevards maybe even including heafty fines so that the city can eventually reposses the property, rip the slum hole down and build a new infill house for a deserving family.

What are your toughts on this topic? What are the next steps?

[1ajs]

this is what we get for having such lax laws in this country gee thanks ottowa.....

foot patrols help police are working on it.. something els i have noticed is the police have realy increased their presince in the north end latly


i don't blame the guy but why move away whats that teaching your dauter stick it through teach her to not let these people intimiate her. i put up with my share of crap over the years i made sure to get adults atention and have it delt with........ not to mention for the longest time a police officer owned a slum house next to me with drugies in it and scum off all races and didn't care who lived their as long as they paid rent... god least 1 person a year died there of some kinda over dose while he owned it befor that was a firefighter who was even worse and my mother even tried to buy the thing but the slum loard refues for any sum of money...

as for the guys garadge yea sadly it happens does not matter wat part of town though its still going to happen

[newflyer]

Originally Posted by Only The Lonely..

Seriously, Doer or Katz needs to call in the Military to patrol the North End.

Crime in this part of town is out of control.

Victim shot in North End

By: Staff Writer - Winnipeg Free Press | 31/07/2009 9:11 PM

Someone reportedly suffered a gunshot wound in the North End at about 8 p.m.


The victim, who is believed to have been shot on the street or sidewalk on Alfred Avenue near Parr Street, was dropped off by car at hospital.


Police were looking for a suspect.

Its really nothing that a bulldozer couldn't fix ..

[1ajs]

why do people have that mentality lets just bulldoe the whole area aww yea thats just going to move the problem rather then deal with it what good is that

not to mention tare down a hudge chunk of the city to go in land fill that is otherwise in decent shape its the slum loards who could care less about the tenits that are the problem

[vid]

"Is a police foot patroll maybe necessary in these parts? "

We introduced crime in our three downtowns here last summer and crime went down considerably. Businesses and shoppers love it. They've been stationing police at bus terminals overnights, and crime there has been cut down several times.

[grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

i don't blame the guy but why move away whats that teaching your dauter stick it through teach her to not let these people intimiate her.

Wha???

Geeze man, we want to teach her a lesson? By getting assaulted? This father's first priority is ensuring the safety of his family. Not teaching fricking life lessons. The hell with preserving the sanctity of the north end at the expense of innocents.

Move. Bulldoze. Start over.

Too bad if that offends your north end sensitivities but I've had enough of the crap that goes on there and the bleeding hearts that get offended when radical measures are suggested.

[hexrae]

Originally Posted by vid

"Is a police foot patroll maybe necessary in these parts? "

We introduced crime in our three downtowns here last summer and crime went down considerably. Businesses and shoppers love it. They've been stationing police at bus terminals overnights, and crime there has been cut down several times.

Qa? I'm assuming "crime" is an acronym? Any info on it?