Saskatoon freezing deaths explained

The Saskatoon freezing deaths involved Indigenous Canadians in and immediately outside Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in the 1990s and early 2000s, and are suspected of being linked to actions by the members of the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS). Police officers would arrest Indigenous people, who were usually male, for alleged drunkenness and/or disorderly behaviour, sometimes without cause.[1] The officers would then drive them to the outskirts of the city at night during winter and abandon them, leaving them stranded in sub-zero temperatures.[2]

The practice is known as taking Indigenous people on "starlight tours"[3] and dates back to at least 1976.[4] As of 2021, despite convictions for related offenses, no police officer has been specifically convicted for having caused freezing deaths.

Incidents

Among the First Nations victims who have died from hypothermia were Rodney Naistus, Lawrence Wegner and Neil Stonechild. Naistus and Wegner died in 2000, and their bodies were discovered on the outskirts of Saskatoon. Inquests in 2001 and 2002 into their deaths determined they were due to hypothermia. The inquest jury's recommendations all related to police policies and indigenous-police relations.[5] Stonechild's body was found on November 29, 1990, in a field outside Saskatoon, which led to an Inquiry Into Matters Relating to the Death of Neil Stonechild.[6] [7] On the night of Stonechild's disappearance, five days prior on November 24, 1990, the temperature reached -28.1C.[8] The 2003 inquest could not determine the circumstances that led to his death.[9]

In January 2000, Darrell Night was dropped off on the outskirts of Saskatoon but was able to call a taxi from the nearby Queen Elizabeth Power Station. The two police officers involved, constables Dan Hatchen and Ken Munson of the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS), claimed they had simply given Night a ride home and dropped him off at his own request, but were convicted of unlawful confinement in September 2001 and sentenced to eight months in prison.[10] [11] [12] Yet investigations into the deaths of Wegner and Naistus were deemed "inconclusive."[13]

The SPS initially insisted these were isolated incidents. However, in 2003, Police Chief Russell Sabo admitted that there was a possibility that the force had been dumping First Nations people outside the city for years, revealing that an SPS officer was disciplined in 1976 for taking an indigenous woman to the outskirts of the city and abandoning her there.[4]

On April 21, 2018, Ken Thomas alleged that he was picked up by two SPS officers and dropped off outside city limits at night in the cold. This accusation was investigated by the Public Complaints Commission, which stated that it was unfounded. In a news release, Police Chief Troy Cooper said it was unlikely that there was contact between the SPS and Thomas on the night of the incident, based on video and audio recordings taken from police cars.[14] [15] [16]

Censorship attempts

Between 2012 and 2016, the "Starlight Tours" section of the SPS's English Wikipedia article was deleted several times. An internal investigation revealed that two of the edits originated from a computer within the SPS. Alyson Edwards, a spokesperson for the force, denied that the removal of content was officially approved by the force.[17] On March 31, 2016, the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reported that "Saskatoon police have confirmed that someone from inside the police department deleted references to 'Starlight tours' from the Wikipedia web page about the police force."[18] According to the report, a "police spokeswoman acknowledged that the section on starlight tours had been deleted using a computer within the department, but said investigators were unable to pinpoint who did it." The spokeswoman stated that the SPS is working to "move forward with all of the positive work that has been done, and continues to be done that came out of the Stonechild inquiry".[18]

In media

Film

These incidents have been addressed in two films. Darrell Night's experiences were documented in Tasha Hubbard's 2004 National Film Board of Canada documentary Two Worlds Colliding, winner of the Canada Award.[19] [20] A fictional incident was also portrayed in the half-hour drama Out in the Cold, directed by Colleen Murphy and starring Gordon Tootoosis,[3] Matthew Strongeagle, and Erroll Kinistino.

Music

In 2005, the Canadian punk rock band Propagandhi released the album Potemkin City Limits, including the song "The Bringer of Greater Things," which was "dedicated to Rodney Naistus, Neil Stonechild and Lawrence Wegner, murdered by members of the Saskatoon Police Department" (album liner notes).

Canadian musician Kris Demeanor's song "One Shoe" was written about the Saskatoon freezing deaths, particularly Stonechild's.[21] The Wailin' Jennys' song "Starlight" was also inspired by the freezing deaths.[22]

In 2017, Mi'kmaq artist Cathy Elliott completed a five-week workshop with students from Sheridan College for her musical Starlight Tour. This work was commissioned by the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario[23] in collaboration with Sheridan College's "Canadian Music Theatre Project".[24]

Podcasts

The freezing deaths are discussed in podcasts such as Criminal[25] [26] and Commons.[27]

Television

The Da Vinci's Inquest episode "The Sparkle Tour" involved the death of a Native activist, allegedly as a result of the police arresting, assaulting, and dumping him in the outskirts in the middle of the night without his shoes; the incident sparks discussion between investigators about the Saskatoon freezing deaths, which are referred to as "sparkle tours."

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Campbell . Meagan . New light on Saskatoon's 'starlight tours' . June 14, 2020 . Macleans.ca . February 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210203164354/https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/new-light-on-saskatoons-starlight-tours/ . live .
  2. Book: Saskatchewan. Commission of Inquiry into Matters Relating to the Death of Neil Stonechild.. Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Matters Relating to the Death of Neil Stonechild. 2009. Commission of Inquiry into Matters Relating to the Death of Neil Stonechild. 319678398. September 26, 2020. May 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220527114318/https://www.worldcat.org/title/report-of-the-commission-of-inquiry-into-matters-relating-to-the-death-of-neil-stonechild/oclc/319678398. live.
  3. News: New film renews community discussion about Aboriginal freezing deaths in Saskatoon. Dispatch. University of Regina. February 15, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20081102040422/https://www.uregina.ca/alumni/news-aen-nfrcdaafdis.htm. November 2, 2008. dead.
  4. News: Saskatoon police chief admits starlight cruises are not new. July 1, 2003. Windspeaker. Aboriginal Multimedia Society of Alberta. February 15, 2010. October 17, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121017235335/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Saskatoon+police+chief+admits+starlight+cruises+are+not+new.(inquiry...-a0105369747. live.
  5. Web site: Excerpts from Third Report of Canada on the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment . February 22, 2010 . June 10, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110610170109/http://www.pch.gc.ca/ddp-hrd/docs/cat/2002/sk-eng.cfm . live .
  6. Web site: Publications Saskatchewan. 2020-09-26. publications.saskatchewan.ca. May 25, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190525022430/https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/#/products/9462. live.
  7. Razack. Sherene. January 2014. "It Happened More Than Once": Freezing Deaths in Saskatchewan. Canadian Journal of Women and the Law. 26. 1. 51–80. 10.3138/cjwl.26.1.51. 144940408. 0832-8781. September 26, 2020. May 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220527114320/http://mr.crossref.org/iPage?doi=10.3138%2Fcjwl.26.1.51. live.
  8. October 2004 . Report of the Commission of Inquiry Into Matters Relating to the Death of Neil Stonechild . The Honourable Mr. Justice David H. Wright, Commissioner.
  9. News: Who was Neil Stonechild?. https://web.archive.org/web/20180811171332/http://www.cbc.ca/news2/background/stonechild/. August 11, 2018. November 3, 2005. CBC News. CBC. February 15, 2010.
  10. Web site: New light on Saskatoon's 'starlight tours' - Macleans.ca. 2021-01-09. www.macleans.ca. February 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210203164354/https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/new-light-on-saskatoons-starlight-tours/. live.
  11. Web site: Left for dead in a Saskatchewan winter. Brown. DeNeen L.. November 22, 2003. MSN. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. https://web.archive.org/web/20050915100829/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3540725/. September 15, 2005. dead. November 27, 2010.
  12. News: Neil Stonechild: Timeline. https://web.archive.org/web/20200605044951/https://www.cbc.ca/news2/background/stonechild/timeline.html. June 5, 2020. CBC News. November 3, 2005. September 25, 2012.
  13. Web site: Warick . Jason . Sask. man at centre of historic 'Starlight Tours' police misconduct case has died . . 14 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230523120833/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/darrell-night-died-starlight-tour-1.6818232 . May 23, 2023 . en-ca . Apr 23, 2023 . live.
  14. Web site: Man files complaint against police, says officers left him outside Saskatoon . globalnews.ca . April 24, 2018 . July 23, 2019 . August 11, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190811103452/https://globalnews.ca/news/4165448/saskatoon-filed-complaint-police-alleged-starlight-tour/ . live .
  15. Web site: Man accusing Saskatoon police of conducting a 'starlight tour' hires lawyer experienced with the allegation . saskatoon.ctvnews.ca . May 4, 2018 . July 23, 2019 . June 25, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200625101749/https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/man-accusing-saskatoon-police-of-conducting-a-starlight-tour-hires-lawyer-experienced-with-the-allegation-1.3916184 . live .
  16. Web site: 'Starlight Tour' allegation unfounded, investigation finds . saskatoon.ctvnews.ca . December 18, 2018 . July 23, 2019 . April 18, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190418010412/https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/starlight-tour-allegation-unfounded-investigation-finds-1.4222925 . live .
  17. Web site: Student claims Saskatoon police removed 'starlight tours' section from Wikipedia page . Zakraski . Dan . . March 31, 2016 . March 31, 2016 . March 31, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160331193307/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-police-starlight-tours-wikipedia-delete-1.3512586 . live .
  18. News: Someone at city police headquarters deleted 'starlight tour' references on its Wikipedia page. Saskatoon StarPhoenix . March 31, 2016. April 1, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160401195746/https://thestarphoenix.com/storyline/someone-at-city-police-headquarters-deleted-starlight-tour-references-on-its-wikipedia-page/.
  19. News: Justice of the police. https://archive.today/20130209011211/http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=1764. dead. February 9, 2013. Thrall. Christopher. April 7, 2005. Vue Weekly. February 15, 2010.
  20. Web site: Two Worlds Colliding. National Film Board of Canada. September 25, 2012. October 8, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121008022259/http://www.nfb.ca/film/two_worlds_colliding/. live.
  21. Web site: img.sauf.ca. December 20, 2020. May 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220527114322/https://img.sauf.ca/pictures/2018-06-05/b4fc7dd997362d3ca8c2f3cac8b860bb.pdf. live.
  22. Web site: starlight tours winnipeg. 2020-12-20. melbourneclinicalmasseurs.com.au. en-US. May 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220527114326/https://melbourneclinicalmasseurs.com.au/c7jmag0c/. live.
  23. News: Canadian arts community mourns loss of Indigenous playwright. CBC News. November 7, 2017. en. March 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190327175940/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/canadian-arts-community-mourns-cathy-elliott-1.4359434. live.
  24. News: Nova Scotia Indigenous playwright, actor remembered as 'a bright light'. October 17, 2017. National Post. November 7, 2017. en-US. May 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220527114321/https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/nova-scotia-indigenous-playwright-actor-and-composer-dies-suddenly. live.
  25. This Week in True-Crime Podcasts: The Case of Woody Harrelson's Father . Vulture . May 8, 2020 . April 22, 2020 . May 2, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200502081510/https://www.vulture.com/article/best-new-true-crime-podcasts-may-2020.html . live .
  26. Web site: April 17, 2020. Starlight Tours. Criminal. June 25, 2020. June 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200627190143/https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-138-starlight-tours-4-17-2020/. live.
  27. Web site: THE POLICE #4 - Starlight Tours. 2021-07-12. CANADALAND. en-US. July 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712232414/https://www.canadaland.com/podcast/the-police-4-starlight-tours/. live.

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