Quebec provincial police officers agree to take off controversial red bands

SretduQubec officers will remove a controversial symbol they were wearing on their uniform, which several Indigenous leaders described as being "divisive" and "intimidating,"Radio-Canada has learned.

Officersstarted wearing the red bands on their vests with the number 144 the number of the Val-d'Or detachment in a show of support for their colleagueswhowere suspended following an investigation into the mistreatment of Indigenous women in 2015.

The investigation into allegations of mistreatment did not lead to any criminal charges against the eight officers, who then filed grievancesagainst their employer.

According to Radio-Canada's sources, both parties reached an out-of-court agreement in the past week.

Act of provocation

Guy Lapointe, spokesperson for the SQ, said the agreement will remain confidential, but did include a provision requiring allofficers to take off the red bands.

"We're happy to see this finally come to an end," Lapointe said.

Over the past few months, several Indigenousleaders have called on the SQ to interveneand demand their employees remove the so-called solidarity bands.

Ghislain Picard, the Quebec regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations, called the initiative "very offensive. It's really provocation."

Michle Audette, acommissioner with the inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG), said she heard first-hand how thered bands worsened the already strained relations between aboriginal people and police.

"They don't want to call 911, or they don't want to get involved with the police because the trust is not there anymore," said Audettein September.

'Step in the right direction'

Adrienne Jrmeis the chief of Lac-Simon, an Anishnabecommunity 40 kilometres east of Val-d'Or.

During her testimony at Quebec's inquiry into the treatment of Indigenous people, shedescribed how the trust between residents and police had been broken.

Justice Jacques Viens, who is presiding over the commission, has expressed several times his desire that the bandsbe removed.

Seeing that happen, Jrmesaid, will help rebuild connections between community and police.

"We saw it as confrontation, even if they said it meant something else, for us it was a symbol of police brutality," Jrme said. "But now, it is proof there is a process of reconciliation that is beginning, and also of respect with police."

The executive director of the Val-d'Or Native Friendship Centre,dithCloutier, said the red bands were getting in the way of efforts to improve relations.

"This is a decision that will open up that door, and is astep in the right direction," she said.