In Production
JUST ANOTHER DEAD INDIAN
(Or "Ten Little Indians")
Ten Aboriginal Men.
Ten Brutal Murders. Ten
Killers walk Free. Will it ever
stop?
JJ Harper, Neil Stonechild, Dudley George, Frank Paul, Anthany
Dawson, Max Kekegamic, Melvin Wayne Bigsky, Clayton Willey, Dennis St. Paul, Matthew Dumas, Byron Debassige and
Raymond Silverfox – what do these men have in common? All died under mysterious
circumstances. All were of Aboriginal ancestry. All of these men were innocent.
All of these men died due to actions by the police.
Too many questions remain......What is our Justice system
doing to find permanent solutions to these recurring problems? Is there really
anything we can do to deter police brutality or prevent these atrocities from
happening again? Who is next?
“Ten
little Indians went out to dine, one walked home alone, and then there were
nine.”
March 1988: A young Native leader, J. J. Harper, is
stopped by police, who mistake him for a car thief. A scuffle ensues. A shot is
fired. Harper is dead.
“Nine
little Indians, glared at with hate; one was dumped in a field and then there
were eight.”
November 1990: The frozen body of Neil Stonechild is
found in a field in the northwest industrial area of Saskatoon. Two
other Aboriginal men suffer the same fate.
“Eight little Indians enjoying
their haven, one was murdered and then there were seven.”
September 1995: Dudley
George is killed during the peaceful occupation of Ipperwash Park.
“Seven
Little Indians, all in a fix, one was dumped and then there were six.”
December 1998: A
Mi’Kmaq man, Frank Paul, is dumped by Police in a Vancouver Downtown Eastside
alley. His lifeless body is found in the early morning hours.
“Six little Indians very much
alive, one was beaten badly, and then there were five.”
August 1999: Anthany
Dawson suffered an epileptic attack on a Victoria street. Assuming he was
drunk, police attacked & beat him. He was put in police custody where he
died soon after.
“Five little Indians,
pulled over by the store, one shot point-blank, and then there were four.”
April 17, 2001: Melvin Bigsky was fatally shot when a
lone RCMP officer pulled him off a Saskatchewan highway to investigate a report
of a drunk driver.
“Four little Indians,
out on a spree, one was hog-tied, and then there were three.”
July 2003: Clayton
Willey, a Metis man, dies in police custody in Prince George.
“Three little Indians
finishing their stew, one was arrested, and then there were two.”
January 2005: Dennis
St. Paul is shot and killed by an RCMP officer on the Norway House reserve in northern
Manitoba after finishing his shift at a restaurant.
“Two little Indians, just
having fun, one was mistaken, and then there was one.”
January 2005: Teenager Matthew Dumas is fatally injured when
Winnipeg police, looking for a robbery suspect, fire two shots during what they
call "a scuffle" with officers.
“One little Indian
sleeping all alone, he was abused….and then there were none.”
December 2008: Raymond
Silverfox died in police custody after being arrested by RCMP at a local
Whitehorse shelter.
DOCUMENTARY (90 Minutes) - High Definition
Funding Through the Canada Council, the Ontario Arts Council
and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Previews can be seen at: http://www.myspace.com/thunderbird_productions