Police want Musqueam women to know their rights

By Mike Howell-Staff writer

A steady stream of domestic violence reports on the Musqueam reserve has prompted police to hold workshops for women on defense techniques and their legal rights.

The workshops by Insp. John McKay, one of the department's use-of-force trainers, and investigators from the domestic violence unit are set for next month.

The police team will be joined by counsellors from the Ministry of Children and Family Development and Battered Women's Support Services.

Organized by Const. Mark Sykes, who recently replaced Jodyne Keller as the liaison officer to the reserve, the workshops are geared towards stopping abuse and increasing women's trust in police investigating reports of violence.

Sykes wouldn't estimate the number of domestic violence reports, but noted that in the six weeks he's been on the job, he's noticed a significant number.

Though domestic violence is a problem across the city, Sykes said he's made the issue a top priority on the reserve, and hopes his pro-active strategy will make a difference in women's lives.

"It's not like there's some sort of epidemic happening here, it's just that it's an issue that needs to be addressed, and we want to see what we can do to help prevent it."

Building trust is one of Sykes' goals. Recently, after he helped get a stolen bike returned to a woman, the same woman brought a female friend who had been abused to see Sykes.

Within eight hours, a police patrol unit arrested the woman's husband near the Joyce Street SkyTrain station for allegedly assaulting his wife. He's now facing charges and has been ordered to stay away from his wife.

"Unfortunately, it's one case at a time," he said, noting he still has a lot to learn about the Musqueam community and culture. "For me, it's been a learning experience. They have to see they can trust me, and that takes time, but I'm going to be here for a while."

The workshops are welcomed by Gail Sparrow, the Musqueam's former chief and current band councillor. Sparrow said she knows women on the reserve who could benefit from a crash course in their rights.

"I've grown up in this community, and I've witnessed a lot of women who have been victims of domestic violence, and a lot of them don't know what their rights are or what they can do about it," Sparrow said. "A lot of women here stay at home and suffer silently, and they don't know what to do, and it's sad in this day and age."

Though Sparrow admits the relationship between the Musqueam people and the police hasn't always been a good one, she said the band's decision two years ago to donate office space for an officer to work out of the Musqueam's band office was a big step in bridging the gap.

The presence of a police officer on the reserve is also encouraging band members to report other crimes, like burglaries, theft and drug abuse, knowing something will be done, she said. The latest initiative targeting domestic violence shows police are serious about helping Musqueam people, Sparrow added.

"We have to learn to integrate socially, economically and culturally as a First Nation because the services we don't get on the reserve, we have to get off reserve. These workshops, I think, will be good crossing-over programs for our people."