SASKATOON, Sask. — The family of Stan Moosomin, who was injured in an incident involving Battlefords RCMP, joined First Nations leaders to again call for changes to how law enforcement officers respond to situations involving vulnerable persons.
Rosannah Moosomin, Stan's sister, said she wanted people to understand that her 45-year-old brother is a vulnerable person with mental and physical disabilities and is dependent on his family to support his daily living. Both are members of the Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation (MGBHLMFN).
"What happened on Oct. 6 has had a serious impact on Stan and all of us who love and care for him. He was frightened, seriously injured and required surgery. Our family is now left dealing with the emotional and physical consequences of what happened," said Rosannah during a news conference on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations' office.
"What is difficult for us is knowing that the officers were told about Stan's disabilities. They were told he could pass out or have a seizure when frightened, and they were warned about his disabled arm. We feel this could have been prevented."
According to a recent Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) statement, the incident happened on Oct. 6, when Battlefords RCMP attempted to stop a vehicle on Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation around 1 p.m. The vehicle, with an adult male and an adult female as passengers, did not stop and pulled into the driveway of a residence.
During the investigation, Battlefords RCMP officers found the male driver had a suspended licence and an outstanding warrant. Officers arrested him without incident, while the adult male passenger did not comply with requests to exit the vehicle.
Battlefords RCMP officers removed the passenger from the vehicle and arrested him. EMS assessed him after being called to the scene. EMS personnel notified the RCMP that he was injured and needed further medical care.
Because of the nature of the injury, the RCMP notified SIRT to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest and injury.
MGBHLMFN Chief Tanya Stone said some of Stan’s family members were at the scene and told officers about his situation. She added that Stan continues to experience the effects of the encounter, including difficulty sleeping, ongoing pain and trauma.
“There were a couple of family members who were part of this, and they were saying over and over, the aunties came who played a mother role; they, too, were trying to explain to the officers, and again, it escalated to a point where an arm was broken,” said Stone, adding that Stan’s recovery might be long, but he has the support of his family and their community.
Stressed and confused
Rosannah said their family was concerned about how Stan was treated, as he was left handcuffed behind the police vehicle for about two hours, which made him uncomfortable and made it hard for him to move or try to reposition himself.
“Our family believes leaving him or staying like that for so long was unnecessary and inhumane. This incident affected more than Stan. Our whole family has been affected, and it has changed the way we feel about calling or trusting the police when we need help. We are not here looking for special treatment. We want Stan to be treated the same way, with the dignity, patience, and respect every person deserves,” she added.
MGBHLMFN Coun. Celeste Sanders, Stan and Rosannah’s sister-in-law, said she had known Stan since kindergarten and that, when she joined the family, they had always looked out for and protected her brother-in-law because of his disability.
“He's not able to understand situations in the same way other people do, especially when he's frightened or under a lot of pressure. That's why the family was trying to help him that day. They tried to tell the officers what they needed to know about Stan,” added Sanders.
“They were told about his mental disability. They were told about his physical disabilities. They were told stress could cause him to have a seizure. They were also told that he's easily frightened. The family watched the situation.”
She said she couldn't believe the images she saw in the video and that Stan didn't understand what was happening and was scared and confused at the time. “When someone like Stan is frightened and confused, they need patience and understanding, not more pressure. The family now has to help Stan recover physically and emotionally from what happened. They also have to live with knowing that they tried to warn officers and still couldn't protect him from being hurt by them.”
“We want a full and fair investigation, but we also want something positive to come out from what happened to Stan. Police need to understand how to recognize and respond to people with mental and physical disabilities. Families need to know their loved ones will be listened to when they are trying to help.”
Rosannah and Sanders said they wanted answers about why the situation escalated so quickly and led to Stan’s injury. They called for a fair and transparent investigation to make sure another vulnerable person and another family do not experience this again.
“We stand together as a family and a community, and we will continue to stand beside Stan as long as we seek answers and as long as he needs,” added Sanders.
Police re-education
Stone then joined Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs chair Quenton Swiftwolfe and Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations third vice-chief Fabian Head in renewing their call for sweeping changes to policing in First Nations communities, while also demanding Indigenous-led policing, improved officer training and greater accountability.
They gathered in support of Stan and his family, saying the incident raised serious concerns about how police respond to vulnerable people. Chief Tanya Stone said the situation should never have escalated to the point where Moosomin suffered a broken arm. “This situation, again, should not have happened.”
Stone said Moosomin was not under arrest when officers began demanding his identity and questioned what legal grounds existed for detaining him or using force. She argued that police must recognize the circumstances of the people they encounter, particularly those who may have difficulty understanding or responding to instructions.
Swiftwolfe echoed Stone’s statement that Moosomin’s disabilities had been brought to officers’ attention, but the situation continued to escalate rather than de-escalate.
“What happened to Stan should have never happened,” said Swiftwolfe, adding that police were trained to de-escalate situations wherever possible, especially when dealing with vulnerable people. He said that the incident has had far-reaching effects on the family and community, reinforcing longstanding concerns about policing and the justice system among First Nations people.
He then called for a policing model that understands the people and realities of First Nations communities and is accountable to them. “We need policing that is built for First Nations, accountable to First Nations, and capable of responding to our people with dignity and respect,” said Swiftwolfe, adding that meaningful reconciliation requires more than promises and calling for concrete action, accountability, and measurable progress toward culturally responsive policing.
Stone said the incident has also damaged relationships between Indigenous communities and police officers, despite efforts to build trust. “We build those relationships with officers, and then when an incident like this happens, it just rips that relationship, what you were building with those officers.”
Stone called for continued lobbying for tribal policing and said officers who understand the communities they serve can provide a different level of service. She also urged the RCMP’s Saskatchewan division, the provincial government and the federal government to take the issue seriously.
Head said the incident raises broader questions about how the justice system treats people with mental and physical disabilities. He said information families provide about a person’s condition should change how officers respond.
“When a family tells police that a person has a disability, may experience a seizure, and has a disabled arm, that information must change the response. It should mean slowing things down to listen and to de-escalate,” said Head.
Head added that police reform must include implementing recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, particularly those on conflict resolution, human rights and anti-racism training. He said supporting effective policing and demanding accountability are not opposing positions, adding that the incident must lead to meaningful discussions and systemic change.
Head also called for Indigenous communities to have a greater role in administering their own justice systems, noting that a lack of funding remains a significant obstacle to establishing Indigenous-led policing services.
The chiefs welcomed Saskatchewan’s SIRT involvement, which began investigating the incident shortly after it occurred. They said an independent investigation is important to establishing the facts and determining what happened, while stressing the need for transparency and public accountability.
The three Indigenous leaders called for sustained cross-cultural training, stronger Indigenous policing services and meaningful changes to how vulnerable people are treated. “Our people should not fear the police who come into our communities to protect them,” Swiftwolfe said.
