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Native Counselling Services of Alberta (NCSA) has released a free Statement to Police bi-fold wallet card to be distributed to Indigenous communities across Alberta. The comes on the heels of the ban on carding by police, as announce in November 2020, by Justice Minister and Solicitor General Kaycee Madu.
Carding was a reality of systemic racism within the police service which disproportionately targeted Indigenous and Black communities in Alberta.
The goal of this wallet card is to increase Indigenous individual’s knowledge of their rights and provide them with a statement to read out loud if they wish to invoke their rights when stopped by police. The inside of the card lists eight individual rights. The text of the card is meant to ensure those rights are upheld by the police.
Digital access and online ordering is available on BearPaw Media and Education’s website at Statement to Police Wallet Card — BearPaw Legal Resources
While the solutions to systemic racism go beyond this card, the NCSA believes the wallet card is one small step in the right direction.
A statement from the Edmonton Police Service supports the card.
“We are proud to support NCSA's Statement to Police card. Through the Service's conversations and engagement with community groups, we have heard there is a desire and recognize the need to educate the public on the rights they have when interacting with police,” Chief Dale McFee of the service is quoted.
“NCSA's wallet card makes this information more accessible and available to the community. It fosters understanding between officers and the public on their respective roles, obligations and rights during interactions — educating citizens on their rights while understanding police roles and responsibilities,” said Deputy Chief Alan Murphy, Community Policing Bureau, Edmonton Police Service.
