First Nations man says racial profiling led to assault by security guard at Regina Canadian Tire

Warning: this story contains distressing content.

Five years ago, Ezekial Bigknife was racially profiled while shopping at a store in Regina. Now he says it has happened to him again, and that this time he was assaulted while confronting his alleged antagonists.

Bigknife displaying bruises on his neck, a black eye and cuts on his face told CBC News he is frustrated.

"It's shocking, because I didn't think it would happen to me twice in my lifetime," Bigknife said.

In November2017,Bigknife was followed by a loss prevention officer at a Giant Tiger. He published a video online documenting the incident.After it attracted national attention, he received an apology from the company and the employee was fired.

Bigknifenow says ithappened to him again this month this time at the Canadian Tire in the 600 block of Albert Street in Regina.

He told CBC that on May 20, he went to the Canadian Tire and was accused of stealing a socket set that he had just purchased, but was left aloneafter showing a receipt.

Then on May 23, Bigknife returned to the store with his brother to purchase parts to repair a truck. He said he was followed around by two loss prevention employees, and used his phone to document it and post the video online.

The video shows the 24-year-old confronting the employees, then eventually going to a till and making his purchase.

Bigknifesaid he realized shortly after that he had bought the wrong part andwent back insidethe store.He and the loss prevention officers exchanged words, but Bigknife eventuallyleft the store.

Bigknifethen decided to confront the loss prevention person on video, andreturned inside with his phone out.That's when things got violent, he said.

The alleged assault

The second video shows three employees, including a security guard, attempting to force Bigknife out of the store.

During the video, Bigknife's phone isknocked out of his hand onto the ground. He said the security guard thenstarted assaulting him.

"The minute you hear him grunt, that's when he started throwing punches," Bigknife said.

Watch the portion of the video where Bigknife saysthe alleged assault happened:

Regina man says racial profiling led to alleged assault

1 year ago

Duration 1:20

Ezekial Bigknife wanted to record video of men he said had been racially profiling him in a Regina Canadian Tire. There was a physical altercation and a security guard now faces an assault charge.

The incident occurs off-screen, but yellingcan be heard, including callsto stop and for someone not to swing.

Bigknife saidhe didn't fight backand eventually left the store. He's been to the doctor and has medication, but he has been left bruised.

"I'm a carpenter. I need my hands.I need my shoulder, and I can't even lift my tool bag with my shoulder. I can't liftthis hand because it hasa hairline fracture and it's definitely painful," he said.

Bigknife said that police were initially going to charge him, but after he showed officers the videos, they told him they had charged the security guard with assault.

The Regina Police Service confirmed they havecharged a 20-year-old with assault. He is scheduled to make his firstappearance in court in July.

A spokesperson for Canadian Tire said they are aware of the altercation.

In a statement, the company said the security guard is an employee with a third-party agency and after areview ofthe incident, the security guard will not be returning to the store.

"Stores have strict protocols and training programs in place with third-party representatives to ensure clear understandings of expectations on how to conduct business and treat customers with respect," reads the statement.

Bigknife said their response is not good enough.

He said the company is evading accountability by blaming a third-party security guard and not examining how their loss prevention program and the racial profiling he experienced contributed to the violence.

"That's what's bothering me about the whole ordeal. Not once did they reach out," Bigknife said.

He wants the company to change its policies so racial profiling doesn't happen.

Bigknife said he has been in contact with lawyers. He is also considering filing a human rights complaint.

Tough conversations

When the incident at Giant Tiger occurred five years ago, Bigknife'sson was one year old. Now, five years later,Bigknife also has a young daughter.

The father of two said he's had difficult conversations with his children.

"'Dad, why did you get beat up? Dad? How come you're beat up like that? Dad, are you going to jail?' I had to have that conversation with him," Bigknifesaid.

He said he is upset that his son now knows aboutsystemic racism through his father's experience.

On a personal level,Bigknife said he will once again begin looking over his shoulder every time he steps into a store, a practice he thought he had finally gotten over.

"Am I going to have to get assaulted every time I go shopping? You know what I mean? Like, it's definitely no good," he said.