Manitoba grand chief defends RCMP collection of DNA from 2,000 men, boys on First Nation

[applegrove]

Manitoba grand chief defends RCMP collection of DNA from 2,000 men, boys on First Nation

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-grand-chief-defends-rcmp-collection-of-dna-from-2-000-men-boys-on-first-nation-1.3434835

"SNIP..........

The head of northern Manitoba chiefs supports an RCMP plan to collect DNA samples from every man and boy between the ages of 15 and 66 in Garden Hill First Nation, as part of the police investigation into the death last May of 11-year-old Teresa Robinson.

■Human rights advocate slams collection of DNA samples from men, boys in Manitoba First Nation

Sheila North Wilson, grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), met with RCMP in Winnipeg to discuss the DNA collection, among other issues on Thursday.

"We talked about how unusual this step is by the RCMP for this investigation. This doesn't happen very often, this kind of massive DNA collection and testing," she said after the meeting.

"I think the community's been calling for something to happen, and for the investigation to move."



..............SNIP"

[HassleCat]

1. I don't know if they can refuse

Canadian law is different, so perhaps the government can compel people to provide samples.

[applegrove]

2. I think it is a new day in the North.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

3. They have every legal right to refuse.

However, if they are visible minorities in isolated communities the slippery slope gets even more tilted against anyone who refuses. And the Mounties don't exactly have a great reputation for applying justice equally.