The following statement is from the mother of slain Six Nations man Jonathan Styres:
tatement from the mother of Jonathan Styres, Deborah Hill, and his immediate familiy.
Transcript: As Jonathan’s immediate family, we are deeply shocked, saddened, and angered by the “Not Guilty” verdict of Peter Khill after he shot and killed Jonathan in the early morning hours on February 4, 2016. We are in disbelief in that another Canadian jury has decided that if someone is armed and scared, you are now allowed to shoot and kill indigenous people without consequence.
The Canadian justice system has, yet again, failed another indigenous family by continuing with the injustice and making no effort to change it. As indigenous people support and honour reconciliation with the settlers of Canada, the Canadian systems are countering towards disconnection and isolation continuing to cause inter-generational trauma to our people. For 151 years, Onkwehon:we people, the original people, have not been a priority in every fraction of the Canadian government system. As a family, we are calling upon the Crown Prosecution to appeal the verdict of Peter Khill.
We also call upon all indigenous chiefs, clanmothers, and leaders to stand taller and push harder for the basic human rights against racism within such a discriminatory system. We call upon the federal/provincial governments and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to adhere to his statement of “we must do better.” We also call upon all parties to implement actions reflecting the Truth and Reconciliation Report 94 Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples addressing systemic discrimination within the Canadian Judicial System. No more talk, we require ACTION
We will continue to fight alongside the other families that injustice has touched — Colten Boushie family, Tina Fontaine family, Cindy Gladue family, and Karl Staats family. Our community of Six Nations and other First Nations across Turtle Island have been strongly united and have shown our resilience for over 151 years. The time for ACTION is now. Stand with us as we will no longer remain silent.
Our family would like to recognize and thank everyone for their efforts that have been made thus far by Six Nations community members, other First Nations communities, and our allies who have been in support of Jonathan and our family during this trying time. Special thanks to: Chief Ava Hill and the Six Nations Elected Council, Six Nations Justice Department, Indigneous Victim Services, Hamilton Victim Witness Assistance program, the Hamilton Police Service, and the Office of the Crown Attorney in Hamilton.
