Potlotek council condemns incident where damage to RCMP vehicles included ‘urine-soaked’ interiors

RCMP say six of their vehicles left at the Potlotek First Nation on Thursday after officers left the scene on foot suffered damage that includes broken windows, flat tires, “urine-soaked interior surfaces” and dents.

In a news release issued Friday, RCMP said seven vehicles, including the six damaged ones, were removed from the Cape Breton community this morning. Some vehicles even had their tires removed, police said.

Isaiah Bernard, a council member for Potlotek First Nation, told CBC News on Friday that his government does not condone damaging RCMP vehicles.

“I would like to … thank our community members for being united, being strong, being peaceful,” he said. “And then to those who came to cause [a] ruckus, I hope you look within and be a better person.

“What happened yesterday with those vehicles is not our way.”

Police were on scene Thursday to carry out a search warrant.

They seized cannabis products and arrested two people, according to the release.

Employees of the Sikku Shop in the community said RCMP broke down the door and loaded a U-Haul trailer with cannabis products on Thursday morning.

RCMP vehicles were then blocked in at the scene for hours as community members gathered on the road.

The release said RCMP members removed the weapons from their vehicles and left on foot.

RCMP say Highway 4 in Potlotek First Nation reopened this morning after they worked with community members to remove the blockade.

Bernard said RCMP have been doing a “great job” building trust with his community for the last few years, but this raid “essentially broke” that.

Bernard blames the province and its December directive that police crack down on illegal cannabis dispensaries. He hopes people contact their MLAs to express their disapproval.

Protests

Thursday’s cannabis raid prompted a series of protests from First Nations communities along four highways that slowed travel around parts of the province on Thursday. The highways have since reopened.

Highway 105 by Whycocomagh, Highway 104 at Paqtnkek and Highway 102 at Shubenacadie reopened last night.

Millbrook First Nation posted a letter to social media Thursday about the raids. The letter, signed by the chief and representing band council, said they’re “deeply concerned by recent police raids on cannabis stores in numerous Mi’kmaw communities in Nova Scotia.”

“Through its words and actions, this government has made clear they are attempting to forcibly and unlawfully impose provincial control of cannabis sales on Mi’kmaw communities.”

The letter also says Mi’kmaw chiefs “have repeatedly urged the Provincial Government to work collaboratively to develop a regime for the sale of cannabis that respects our rights of self-determination, and our treaty rights.”

A news release from Potlotek First Nation on Saturday also said it is willing to work with the provincial government on “clear regulatory standards and the development of a community crafted bylaw.”

The release said the First Nation’s request for the return of the seized items was denied.

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