Adrian Sylvester was shocked and surprised when the RCMP initially announced that they believed there was no criminality involved in the death of First Nation teenager Carsyn Mackenzie Seaweed.
Sylvester was one of roughly 30 people who gathered in front of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment on Friday (May 26) to protest the policesa国际传媒檚 handling of the investigation into the death of 15-year-old Seaweed.
The Citizen is now reporting her name as her family has identified her publicly.
Seaweed was found alive but semi-conscious under a pile of wooden pallets, cardboard and garbage behind the Super 8 Hotel in Duncan on the morning of May 15. She later died in hospital.
On Friday, Sylvester said he finds it ridiculous that Mounties would say they believed there was no criminality involved in the teenagersa国际传媒檚 death considering the state of how she was found.
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sa国际传媒淗ow could they say that this isnsa国际传媒檛 suspicious?sa国际传媒� he asked.
sa国际传媒淭he RCMP are supposed to be here to protect us. Carsynsa国际传媒檚 family was heartbroken when they learned that the police had stopped the investigation. We want the RCMP and the community to be aware that these kinds of things cansa国际传媒檛 happen anymore. Enough is enough.sa国际传媒�
Sylvester is a member of Cowichan Tribessa国际传媒� Sasquatch Clan Patrol, a volunteer-run organization that focuses on harm reduction and community health.
The RCMP have since confirmed that they are still actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the hours leading up to Seaweedsa国际传媒檚 death, and that their initial statement that they believed that there was no criminality involved was a miscommunication between police spokespeople.
Insp. Chris Bear, head of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment, came out to talk to the protesters, assuring the crowd that investigators are doing all they can to get to the bottom of the case.
sa国际传媒淭his investigation was never closed, but there was a miscommunication and I apologize for that,sa国际传媒� he said.
Bear said he couldnsa国际传媒檛 speak about the case further as itsa国际传媒檚 still under investigation, and he encouraged anyone with information to contact the RCMP.
Cowichan Tribes and Seaweedsa国际传媒檚 mother are also urging anyone with information about her death and final hours to come forward.
Sylvester said he believes the RCMP only decided to continue the investigation into Seaweedsa国际传媒檚 death after they came under pressure from the community to do so.
He described the teen as always being happy and caring, with a smile that lit up the faces of everyone around her.
sa国际传媒淗er family and friends really loved her and they are in my prayers every day.sa国际传媒�
Sylvester said young people are full of joy and love, but they lose that when things like the death of Seaweed happen.
sa国际传媒淚 want our youth to grow up happy and thinking of their futures and I want to reassure them that this will not happen to them,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淭he support from the community here today is great, but it shouldnsa国际传媒檛 have had to come to this.sa国际传媒�
Whatsa国际传媒檚 needed are more patrols and security on the streets that have people on them who care about what theysa国际传媒檙e doing, he added.
sa国际传媒淲e also need more youth centres and other good places where kids can go for art, music and culture to keep them off the streets, as well as more recovery centres.sa国际传媒�
An online fundraiser has been set up for the family at .
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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