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| Canada shooting suspect in court as First Nations call for share in prosperity Canada shooting suspect in court as First Nations call for share in prosperity | |
| (3 months later) | |
| A Canadian high school student has appeared in court over the murder of two teenage brothers and two teachers in the remote indigenous community of La Loche in Saskatchewan. | A Canadian high school student has appeared in court over the murder of two teenage brothers and two teachers in the remote indigenous community of La Loche in Saskatchewan. |
| The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified under Canadian law, was indicted on four counts of first-degree or premeditated murder and seven counts of attempted murder, as well as a weapons charge. | The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified under Canadian law, was indicted on four counts of first-degree or premeditated murder and seven counts of attempted murder, as well as a weapons charge. |
| He is scheduled to return to court on 22 February. | He is scheduled to return to court on 22 February. |
| The gun attack on Friday traumatised the 3,000 inhabitants of the small lakeside village of La Loche, in the western prairie province of Saskatchewan. | The gun attack on Friday traumatised the 3,000 inhabitants of the small lakeside village of La Loche, in the western prairie province of Saskatchewan. |
| Shock also spread across the nation. Unlike in the neighbouring United States, mass shootings are rare in Canada, where firearms are more regulated. | Shock also spread across the nation. Unlike in the neighbouring United States, mass shootings are rare in Canada, where firearms are more regulated. |
| Two brothers – Drayden and Dayne Fontaine, aged 13 and 17 – were killed at their home, then two teachers, 21-year-old Marie Janvier and 35-year-old Adam Wood, were shot dead at a school. Seven other people were critically injured, according to police. | Two brothers – Drayden and Dayne Fontaine, aged 13 and 17 – were killed at their home, then two teachers, 21-year-old Marie Janvier and 35-year-old Adam Wood, were shot dead at a school. Seven other people were critically injured, according to police. |
| On Sunday hundreds attended a church service in memory of the victims, while leaders expressed their grief. | On Sunday hundreds attended a church service in memory of the victims, while leaders expressed their grief. |
| Town mayor Kevin Janvier and local member of parliament Georgina Jolibois suggested tearing down the school where the shooting took place “because of the trauma”. | Town mayor Kevin Janvier and local member of parliament Georgina Jolibois suggested tearing down the school where the shooting took place “because of the trauma”. |
| La Loche has long struggled with high rates of addiction, suicide and poverty. In a region that actually has one of the country’s lowest unemployment rates (5.5% versus 7.1% across Canada), in La Loche almost roughly every second adult is unemployed. The suicide rate is three times higher than in the rest of the province. | La Loche has long struggled with high rates of addiction, suicide and poverty. In a region that actually has one of the country’s lowest unemployment rates (5.5% versus 7.1% across Canada), in La Loche almost roughly every second adult is unemployed. The suicide rate is three times higher than in the rest of the province. |
| The Canadian government’s House of Commons leader, Dominic LeBlanc, drew attention to the bleak living conditions in La Loche. “The government has to look at a whole series of measures to improve community safety,” he said. | The Canadian government’s House of Commons leader, Dominic LeBlanc, drew attention to the bleak living conditions in La Loche. “The government has to look at a whole series of measures to improve community safety,” he said. |
| Canada’s recently elected prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has promised to ratify a UN declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. Canada and three other countries – Australia, the United States and New Zealand – were the only nations to vote against the UN indigenous text in 2007. | Canada’s recently elected prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has promised to ratify a UN declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. Canada and three other countries – Australia, the United States and New Zealand – were the only nations to vote against the UN indigenous text in 2007. |
| Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, the main political group representing the country’s aboriginal people, said that in the wake of the La Loche shootings he would put pressure on Trudeau to deliver on election promises to his community. | Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, the main political group representing the country’s aboriginal people, said that in the wake of the La Loche shootings he would put pressure on Trudeau to deliver on election promises to his community. |
| “It’s a travesty that this quality of life persists in this great, rich country called Canada,” Bellegarde said on Monday. “Everyone’s focused on La Loche now, saying this is not acceptable in 2016.” | “It’s a travesty that this quality of life persists in this great, rich country called Canada,” Bellegarde said on Monday. “Everyone’s focused on La Loche now, saying this is not acceptable in 2016.” |
| “Words are easy to say … there has to be these investments now to get us to the same starting line as everyone else,” Bellegarde said. “We’ve got 10, 12, 13 people living in a two-bedroom house. That affects everything.” | “Words are easy to say … there has to be these investments now to get us to the same starting line as everyone else,” Bellegarde said. “We’ve got 10, 12, 13 people living in a two-bedroom house. That affects everything.” |
| Bellegarde, who voted for the first time in the October election that vaulted Trudeau to power, said he believed the new prime minister “gets it”, referring to the need to improve living standards. | Bellegarde, who voted for the first time in the October election that vaulted Trudeau to power, said he believed the new prime minister “gets it”, referring to the need to improve living standards. |
| Less than half of Canada’s aboriginal people have typically voted in elections because many do not recognise the government’s sovereignty. | Less than half of Canada’s aboriginal people have typically voted in elections because many do not recognise the government’s sovereignty. |
| But anger over disproportionately high rates of violence against indigenous women, dire living conditions as well as resource development and environmental issues prompted Bellegarde to publicly urge aboriginal people to cast ballots last year. | But anger over disproportionately high rates of violence against indigenous women, dire living conditions as well as resource development and environmental issues prompted Bellegarde to publicly urge aboriginal people to cast ballots last year. |
| In July 2015 the UN Human Rights Committee in a report blamed Ottawa for many of the inequalities affecting indigenous people and urged the government to do more to support natives. | In July 2015 the UN Human Rights Committee in a report blamed Ottawa for many of the inequalities affecting indigenous people and urged the government to do more to support natives. |
| As part of an ongoing rapprochement between the federal government and Canada’s more than 600 indigenous tribes, Trudeau has announced an inquiry into why 1,200 indigenous women were murdered or have gone missing over the past three decades – an investigation long demanded by aboriginal leaders and activists. | As part of an ongoing rapprochement between the federal government and Canada’s more than 600 indigenous tribes, Trudeau has announced an inquiry into why 1,200 indigenous women were murdered or have gone missing over the past three decades – an investigation long demanded by aboriginal leaders and activists. |
| With Agence France-Presse and Reuters | With Agence France-Presse and Reuters |