Sask. Cree elder wants apology from provincial government after home raided by conservation officers in 2021
CBC
An elder from a First Nation in western Saskatchewan wants a public apology from the provincial government, after conservation officers raided his home in 2021 and confiscated moose meat he says was given to him by community members for a ceremonial gathering and feast.
Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation Elder Doug Morningchild, 70, spoke along with his wife, Flora Morningchild — a medicine woman — and their friend Gale Takakenew at a Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations news conference on Friday, calling on the provincial government to address systemic racism within the Ministry of Environment.
Doug Morningchild said he started off the morning on Oct. 7, 2021, as he usually does: checking his rabbit snares.
"We are traditional people," he said. "We try to live off the land as much as we can."
Later that day, he was relaxing with his wife at their home on the First Nation, located northeast of Lloydminster, when she noticed conservation vehicles pull into their driveway, he said. Morningchild said he estimated there were up to 20 officers at his home.
"They embarrassed us," he said. "Vehicles stopped on the highway to check what was going on at my place like I was a big drug dealer or a mass murderer, with all the vehicles and the lights."
Morningchild said he asked the officers whether they had a search warrant.
"[The officers said] 'it's in the office, we'll go get it and we will bring it tomorrow,'" he said.
"Then they all piled in."
The officers went on to search his home, including personal belongings in their bedroom, for moose meat, said Morningchild.
"I didn't even know what they were looking for, and he said I killed three moose," he said. "How can I kill three moose? I didn't even have a firearm inside the house."
The conservation officers confiscated wild meat from a large freezer and three smaller freezers, which officers said would be DNA tested.
Morningchild says the meat had been given to him to feed his family and community members at upcoming ceremonial gatherings.
Takakenew said she went to the Morningchilds' home the day of the raid for teachings, and found the conservation officers there. She saw armed officers were still at the residence later that night, she said Friday.