B.C. native leaders call for independent investigation

B.C.'s aboriginal leaders are calling for an independent investigationafter RCMP pepper-sprayed members of the Sechelt First Nation, including children and infants.

"There is no possible excuse for pepper-spraying babies and small children. No excuse whatsoever!" —Grand Chief Stewart Philip

"We are absolutely outraged at the reckless, dangerous and highly irresponsible actions of the RCMP officers who pepper-sprayed at least two children below two years of age, children below the age of 16, parents and the coach and players of the Sechelt Indian Band soccer team," Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, the president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, saidin a written statement.

"There is no possible excuse for pepper-spraying babies and small children. No excuse whatsoever!"

The tense confrontation occurred Monday night in the community about45 kilometres northwestof Vancouver as a group of residents held a parade of vehicles to celebrate two community youth teams' wins in aVancouver soccer tournament. Officers and residents struggled afterthe driver of a pickup truck with several children in the back refused to stop for police.

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs is demanding the RCMP issue both a verbal and written apology to members of the Sechelt Indian Band.

"As it stands, in the aftermath of this outrageous incident, the children within the Sechelt Indian Band community have no good reason to place their trust in the RCMP. If there is ever any hope of restoring the harshly ruptured relationship between the RCMP and the Sechelt Indian Band community, an arms-length investigation is absolutely essential," Phillip said in the statement.

RCMP describe 'very frightening' situation

On Tuesday, RCMP officers met with band members to discuss the incident, but the session quickly turned into a shouting match.

'It's a very frightening position when you are surrounded by 40 or 50 people who aren't exactly happy with what you are doing.' —RCMP Staff Sgt. Brad Zalys

Police say the officers were forced to use pepper spray when angry people got too close, adding that a home video shot by the band's own members proves that.

RCMP Staff Sgt. Brad Zalys said the crowd of about 50 to 75 became hostile and the officers had little choice but to use pepper spray.

"It's a very frightening position when you are surrounded by 40 or 50 people who aren't exactly happy with what you are doing,"Zalys said during a town meeting Tuesday that was aimed at easing tensions between the two sides.

He also apologized for the pepper spray hitting the children, but said the video proves residents werethreatening policeat the scene.

But band members say their relationship with theRCMP is ruined.

The parents have said it is a community tradition to celebrate with a grand entrance to the community, including honking horns.

In past years, the RCMP has stopped other traffic in the community to allow similar celebrations, saidShannon Phillips, whose husband, Troy Mayers, was drivingthepickup truck carrying two of her stepsons as they held trophies. Mayers waslater taken away in handcuffs.

"This is a celebration that's been going on for 40 years," Phillips told CBCNews Wednesday. "It's not something where you go speeding through the band with children in the back of your truck. It's not a reckless situation at all."

According to Phillips, the first officer on the scene was understanding, even smiling as he spoke into a walkie-talkie. But that changed when other officers, including a plainclothes policeman, arrived at the scene.

"That’s when everything got right out of hand," she said.

At one point inthe video, Phillips, with her six-month-old son Kayden in one arm, made a punching motion toward one of the officers. But she said she only reacted after hepushed her, nearly causing her to drop her baby.

"I've been raised to respect them and I always have," Phillips said."But how do you explain this to your children when they come out with pepper spray?"

'That bridge was just burned down last night'

Community members at the meeting dismissed the RCMP's account of events, and said the incident demonstrated a greater problem with the frayed relationship between aboriginals and police.

"They're trying to work with First Nations people and build a bridge? That bridge was just burned down last night," resident Joyce Joe said at the town meeting.

In all, 15 adults and children as young as under two years old were treated at St. Mary's Hospital for exposure to pepper spray. All were released.

Former Sechelt chief Gary Feschuk told the crowd he felt police had treated band members unfairly over the years, but this latest incident was the worst he had seen.

"I mean, I really hope you look at that video, watch that video," he said. "Those young people are traumatized, but we're supposed to be building a relationship."

Mayers has been charged with a number of offences, including failure to stop and resisting arrest.