Ottawa police lawyers warned officers to go easy on Freedom Convoy protestors in case they were indigenous, according to Blacklock’s Reporter. .“As there may be demonstrators who are indigenous, there may be heightened concerns surrounding any active enforcement measures and recognizing the uniqueness of indigenous occupations,” said the Ottawa police legal department in a memo. .Police lawyers wrote the memo to the deputy chief hours before the Freedom Convoy arrived in January. .“Police ought to develop communication networks and trusting relationships with indigenous people,” said the legal department. .“This involves collaboration and partnership with indigenous leaders and communities.”.If there are indigenous protestors, the memo said police should speak with tribal leaders to ensure any response considers ethnicity. Police lawyers said the memo was “privileged and confidential,” “for Ottawa Police Service internal use,” and “dissemination prohibited.”.Lawyers said when dealing with indigenous protestors, police should “focus on the requirements for peacekeeping, communication, negotiation, and building trust both generally and with respect to specific incidents.” They suggested patience, listening, and good faith communication. .This memo followed the 2020 indigenous rail blockades that led to $283 million in economic losses and more than 1,000 layoffs. There were 50 blockades organized in support of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation resisting the Coastal GasLink Pipeline. .The Wet’suwet’en blockades disrupted the Canadian National Railway main line in Belleville, ON, a Canadian Pacific Rail line south of Montreal, and blocked cross-border bridges in Cornwall, ON, and Sault Ste. Marie, ON. They ended after former indigenous services minister Marc Miller met with protesters. .This memo comes after the Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC) to study Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoking the Emergencies Act (War Measures Act) began Oct. 13. .READ MORE: Convoy organizers, prime minister to testify before Public Order Emergency Commission.Cabinet ministers, City of Ottawa officials, Freedom Convoy organizers, and Trudeau will testify in front of the POEC..The Emergencies Act, declared in February for the first time in Canadian history, gave the federal government sweeping powers to end the Freedom Convoy. It gave the government the ability to freeze protestor bank accounts and force tow truck drivers to clear vehicles from Ottawa’s streets.
