Mayoral candidates focus on public safety at Indigenous forum

Mayoral hopefuls made their pitch to Winnipeg’s Indigenous community Tuesday at a forum hosted by chiefs organizations.

“Public safety must include trust between police and First Nations,” said candidate Kevin Klein, a former chair of the police board. “Winnipeg needs a policing approach that protects Indigenous residents, supports victims, prevents crime and builds lasting relationships with Indigenous communities.”

The former city councillor and Tory cabinet minister promised harsher penalties for drug dealers and said he’d work to create a community safety task force that would include Indigenous leadership.

He also said the police service must recruit more Indigenous officers to change its culture.

The event, attended by dozens, was hosted by the Southern Chiefs Organization, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak.

Earlier Tuesday, the assembly had reiterated its call for a public inquiry into the fatal shooting of Indigenous teenager Eishia Hudson in 2020. She was shot by a city police officer after a high-speed chase stemming from a liquor store robbery. The relationship between law enforcement and First Nations residents was a key part of the forum.

Kyra Wilson, grand chief the assembly, said the relationship between the new mayor and community must be built on respect, equity and cultural understanding.

She said whoever is elected needs to be ready to work with the community on policing.

“When you look at police, security, they have a responsibility and an obligation to protect the very people who are going into their establishments or even just walking down the streets of Winnipeg,” Wilson said. “When it comes to First Nations people, unfortunately, we deal with systemic racism every single day and this is a reality.”

She called for a larger focus on training related to cultural sensitivity and inter-generational trauma experienced by Indigenous people.

“There’s a lot of work that is needed and that definitely needs to be a priority if everyone is going to feel safe in the city,” she said.

Incumbent mayor Scott Gillingham, said that during his tenure, the city has “taken the first” step in establishing a new response team for people in crisis. He said he has secured council support and has met with Premier Wab Kinew about its creation.

“Ten thousand calls, every year, could be diverted, away from police, fire and paramedic and better handled by mobile crisis workers, the good news is, we have those mobile crisis workers already,” he said.

He promised $100,000 for Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. to continue partnerships between Winnipeg police and Indigenous organizations to crack down on open drug use on city streets.

“Here’s the problem, so many of the victims of crime are First Nations people,” he said. “We can be compassionate for the sick, but not tolerate drug trafficking.”

Funeral director Mike Vogiatzakis, who is seeking the mayors chair, said to improve the relationship, the city must address the root causes of crime.

“The problem is pretty clear,” Vogiatzakis said. “If we didn’t have addictions, mental health, homelessness and poverty, there wouldn’t be any theft at stores.”

He decided to run for mayor after the violent death of his brother Kyriakos Vogiatzakis in 2024. He said desperation fuels much of the crime in Winnipeg.

“People are hungry. They go in because they want something to eat and then they get beaten up by a police officer or a security guard, that is totally unacceptable,” he said.

Vogiatzakis said he’ll put Indigenous response teams, whose members are trained on how to interact with Indigenous people, in high-crime areas.

Mayoral candidates Chris Clacio, Tracey Drexler, Joshua Pagdato, Umar Hyat, Brad Gross, Don Woodstock, Mazher Alam, Noah Redden and Johnny Calderon also attended the forum.

morgan.modjeski@winnipegfreepress.com