Curtis Brick Gathering: A People's Inquest One Year Later

BLOG POST posted on Juillet 28, 2010 by Salish Seas

Curtis Brick Rally 2009

photo of Curtis

→Original Peoples

Contact:  Indigenous Action Movement:  (604) 682-3269, Ext. 7718

CURTIS BRICK, One Year Later, the People’s Inquest

The Indigenous Action Movement is organizing a 2nd gathering to remember one of their fallen. Curtis Brick needlessly and horrifically died on the hottest day on record, in plain view of the public, in Grandview Park , July 29, 2009. The final insult: In their report, the attendants stated they had provided care to Curtis, including placing cool towels on him, and trying to provide liquids to him, when according to witnesses, they had not. Then upon arrival to hospital, it took another hour before Curtis was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. An hour too late.   It is now one year later, and what's being done?

“Our people standing together, is immensely important to break the cycle of, not only racial discrimination, but society’s indifference towards injustice where it concerns our brothers and sisters. Doing our part, may help one of our family members, friends and loved ones, and maybe even ourselves one day.  We should not have a fear of laying there dying on the street only to be seen as “most likely just passed out.” I hope that someone will check on me to see if I’m okay and get medical assistance. I hope for that assistance to be at least considerate, given that they know I have a society behind me that cares.”  Kat Norris, Coast Salish/Nez Perce

On July 29, 2010the community will gather together at Grandview Park in East Vancouver, Commercial Drive and Charles Street, We ask supporters to arrive about 5:00 to help put together the survival packs to hand out.  Drumming, singing, speakers, and a smudging ceremony will take place. Survival packs will be handed out. Survival packs will include:  Bottled water; juice cartons; frybread or sandwiches; mini sun block. Some of Curtis Brick’s friends will be there, & we are inviting any family members as well to share in this dedication and call for an inquest. If you know of family members, please have them contact me at (604) 682-3269 Extension: 7718

City Hall Update:  “As a result of Curtis Brick’s death, (Vancouver City) Council on September 10, 2009, moved: “FURTHER THAT staff undertake a review of existing extreme weather emergency services offered by the City and make recommendations on these services that would further reduce the risk for street homeless and other vulnerable populations, such as homebound senior citizens, in the event of extreme heat or cold events.” This report provides follow up to this motion in the form of a brief review and a proposed Preparedness and Response Plan for 2010.  Full document here: http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20100706/documents/rr1.pdf

 “The Creator works in mysterious ways and I am sure that Curtis is pleased that his friends will be better taken care of.  It still means that, as a community, we must continue to do our parts, ensuring that respect is apparent when services providers are at work and to call advocacy and/or call attention to mistreatment or racism.

We will still do the gathering in his honor and to call for a public inquest into his untimely death. We want to educate ourselves as to how we can better help those in need and to ensure that this doesn’t happen ever again.”  Kat

We are just doing our part that his death, the deaths of Frank Paul, who police dragged and dumped outside in freezing weather comatose;  Francis McAllister who ambulance attendance left out only to freeze to death in 2008; the Saskatoon “Starlight Tours” where Neil Stonechild, Lawrence Wegner and so many more who didn’t make it into the news.  We also do this for our young generation today; hopefully many lessons will be learned.”  Kat Norris, Community Contact Line:  (604) 682-3269 Extension:  7718

BACKGROUNDER: Curtis Brick was a homeless man who, through circumstance,ended up on the streets of Vancouver ’s east side. On July 29, 2009, he was spotted by community member Eric Schweig at 9:00 am lying in Grandview Park with his shirt covering his head.  Approximately 4:00 pm, the same day, Eric again saw Curtis laying in the same spot, convulsing and in extreme physical distress. No one had stopped to help. Ambulance was called by staffers of the Vancouver Aboriginal Transformative Justice Services Society, which operates out of the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre.

 Witnesses, including the VATJSS staff were stunned at how crude emergency attendants were towards Curtis pushing at his foot, yelling for him to get up, knowing he lay there all day, seeing his darkened tongue and foam at his mouth. They took him away by ambulance, no sirens, the back of the ambulance dark.

** Family friendly event **Everyone welcome to bring food .. clean or new baseball caps, socks, underwear, soaps, shirts.. anything you can think of.. that our people on the street need.  If there are a lot of left over items, we can bring them to the First United Church or the DTES Women's Centre.