The FSIN is backing a petition launched by the family of Colten Boushie demanding a new Crown prosecutor and an out-of-province lead investigator for the case.
Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations members passed a resolution at day one of the group’s spring assembly Wednesday to support the petition, which is calling for a prosecutor and lead RCMP investigator from outside Saskatchewan to handle the case.
Boushie, who was 22 and from the Red Pheasant First Nation, was shot and killed Aug. 9 while riding in an SUV that went onto a farm near Biggar, Sask. Gerald Stanley is charged with second-degree murder in the death.
Boushie’s cousin, Jade Tootoosis, told The Canadian Press in late October the family are requesting the new prosecution and investigator because of how they feel they’ve been treated in the case and because of allegations evidence was mishandled.
She said the family feels a lead RCMP investigator and a prosecutor from outside the province would be less biased.
"Saskatchewan just seems to be a very well-connected province, especially with it being so farmer-based," Tootoosis, who lives in Edmonton, said.
"We feel that somebody from outside of the province would provide a more accountable process."
The public prosecutions office issued a statement Thursday to CTV, stating it is confident in the counsel assigned to the case.
“It is a prosecutor’s duty to prosecute all cases based on their merit under the Criminal Code of Canada. We are confident that counsel assigned to this case will do so appropriately,” the statement read.
Gerald Stanley has pleaded not guilty in the case. He was committed in April to stand trial.
--- with files from The Canadian Press
