Mi'kmaq community holds healing walk in memory of Rodney Levi

About 100 community members marched in the heatahead of the funeral Friday of Rodney Levi, aMetepenagiag First Nation man shot by RCMP last week.

Levi was the second First Nations person to die at the hands of police in New Brunswick in the span of eight days.

The other, Chantel Moore, a Nuu-chah-nulthwoman of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation in B.C., was shot by an Edmundston Police Force officer who was performing a wellness check on her.

On Friday, members of thecommunity about 30 kilometres west of Miramichi set out to walkfrom a field to the church, where the funeral washeld.

Only 50 closest family and friends were to be allowed inside the St. Thomas the ApostleCatholic Church because ofCOVID-19 physical distancing measures.

A small crowd stood outside the school parking lot across the street as people wait for the service to finish. They held signs reading #IStandForRodneyLevi.

Levi, 48, was shot last Friday by a Sunny Corner RCMPofficer who responded to a report of an unwanted person at a home.

Metepenagiag community members marched in the heat ahead of the funeral of Rodney Levi.

4 years ago

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Rodney Levi was the second First Nations person to die at the hands of police in New Brunswick in the span of eight days.

Ivan (Tee) Cloud, fromMetepenagiag First Nation, waited at the community hall to drum for the familyto welcome them to the community feast after the burial. He saidthe impact of Levi's death has been "devastation."

"We all know him like he was our brother," he said. "I grew up with Rodney. since I was a kid. And to go through this is terrible, man. For everybody, especially the family, and the mother."

"We need healing," he said.

'Overwhelming' support

Ken Levi, Rodney Levi's uncle, said the community has been supporting the family.

"They'vebeen happy. The support for the First Nation and the chief and council, it's overwhelming," he said.

He said he's been communicating with the coroner, the RCMP and the investigation team, but he hasn't had the opportunity to sit down with just the family, so he's not sure what they'll be doing next to cope with the loss.

Metepenagiag First Nation Chief Bill Ward saidthere have been many eyes on the community and a lot of anger, sadness and grief.

"Today was thehardest day, finally laying him to rest, putting him the ground, it was tough for the family, it wastough for the community," he said. "But the hardest day has passed us now, and I think we can move forward and start seeking justice."

Ward said so many people attendingthe walk and helping the family throughout the weekis a testament to Levi's character just a friendly dude, always happy and helpful."

"You have to be a good person for everybody to come together."

Continuing to demand reform

On Wednesday, the New Brunswick government met with First Nations WolastoqeyandMi'kmaq chiefs to talk about systemic racism andtheir desire for an inquiry into thejustice system.

Ward said the last meeting was "more of the same" from the provincial government.

"It's kind of that paternalist-type attitude that we're used to from the government."

Ward said he doesn't think all of the ministers understand what systemic racism is, but some do. He said there are people in government willing to listen to First Nations voices and learn from them, but they're held back by the people who won't.

Ward said he plans on meeting with Premier BlaineHiggs again in two weeks.

"We're going to ask for an inquiry again and we're going to hope to have a differentanswer this time around."

RCMP have not confirmed whereLevi wasshot. However, the Boom Road Pentecostal Church issued a statement In which lead pastor Brodie MacLeod said Levi was a welcome guest at "our home and he attended our residence where he shared a meal with my family and I."

MacLeodwas at Levi's funeral and gave a reading, Ken Levi said.

The Quebec bureau des enqutes indpendantes, or BEI,is investigating both Moore and Levi's deaths to see if the police accounts of what happened were accurate and if any criminal charges against police should be recommended.