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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2001

A six-member coroner's jury in Sasatchewan, Canada, on Saturday ruled that it could not determine why a Native man was found frozen to death on the outskirts of Saskatoon.

To the Native community, the cause is clear. It's the police, as shown by the recent conviction of two white officers who tried to leave a Native man in the freezing cold.

That man, Darrell Night, survied. Rodney Naistus did not.

To prevent similar deaths, the jury said the police force must strengthen its relationship with the Native community. In a nod to some form of collecting profiling statistics, the jury sai police should report details on the people they pick up.

The two white officers admitted to dropping Night off without a jacket in sub-zero temperature in January 2000. They are seeking an appeal of their conviction, but also have asked to be punished through a sentencing circle, which is typically used for Aboriginal offenders.

Get the Story:
Sask. police must change attitude to natives: jury (CBC 11/4)

Relevant Links:
Starlight Tours, from the CBC - http://cbc.ca/national/magazine/starlight/index.html

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White cops want Native justice (10/31)
Officers guilty for abandoning Native (9/21)
Officers admit abandoning Native man (9/19)
All-white jury selected for Sask. officers (9/11)
Hearing held for accused cop (9/12)
Racial tensions rise over police harassment (5/04)
First Nations say police charges don't go far enough (4/13)
Officers charged in Saskatoon (4/12)