A new year, a new century --- but still, the old familiar feelings haunt Nancy Dawson as she faces more challenges coping with the loss of her son Anthany under suspicious circumstances, five months ago.

Turtle Island Native Network has learned that an inquest scheduled for late January, now has been postponed. According to the family, the coroner's office has informed their lawyer that the delay is necessary because no official cause of death has been established yet. They've been told it's normal procedure to get as much information as possible, and that more information gathering needs to occur before the inquest can begin.

The family has been requested to provide the coroner with statements from eyewitnesses who have come forward to tell what they saw on that 'dark' day in mid-August, 1999. As well, the independent RCMP Serious Crimes Unit investigation has not been completed.

Reacting to this latest development brings further grief and stress for Anthany's mother, Nancy who wants to find the truth, but also grows weary of the fight. "I was looking forward to getting it over with....to be able to move on", she told Turtle Island Native Network, as she tried hard to hold back the tears.

Anthany Dawson, a 29 year old Native artist, a member of the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Nation was pronounced dead on Friday, August 13, 1999. Two days earlier, in broad daylight, in Victoria, British Columbia he was apprehended with force, by local police. The family alleges, with the support of eyewitness accounts, that Anthany's arrest involved too much force.

Black clouds of mystery and suspicion hover above the death of Anthany Dawson. Two autopsy reports have been inconclusive. The coroner doesn't know. Family and friends don't know. No-one seems to know what caused his death. For now, there is only guarded finger-pointing. The aboriginal community grows restless with answers and concern. Bridling their anger and protests, they have channelled their energies into fund raising to help off-set the family's legal expenses.

A lack of information contributes to the anxiety experienced by the Dawsons. Five months have passed and they still haven't seen the police reports. They still haven't seen the witness statements taken by police from the people who may be able to add pieces to fit the puzzle.

There's something else very disturbing about all of this. Anthany's body remains in a morgue. There has been no cremation and therefore there cannot be the usual, necessary after-death traditional ceremony. The family has hesitated to proceed further because of so many unanswered questions. The coroner's office said they could temporarily bury Anthany and exhume his body later. But that isn't an option the family cares to even consider.

Nancy Dawson and her family's expectations for some closure, perhaps justice, and necessary relief from her grief will have to wait, perhaps until March at the earliest.The coroner's inquest that was to be held January 24 - 26, 28, 31 and February 1 & 2, at the Western Communities courthouse in Colwood, British Columbia is on hold until the information gathering process is completed, and all parties can agree to a mutually convenient new schedule.

(As previously reported by Turtle Island Native Network)
The Dawson Family's Search for
Truth, Justice and Peace of Mind
October 10, 1999
Victoria, British Columbia
ONE MAN'S OPINION
by Tehaliwaskénhas - Bob Kennedy

Anthany Dawson did not sit down to the dinner table with his mother this Thanksgiving weekend. He didn't celebrate his 30th birthday with her a couple of weeks ago.

It seems to me, sons do have a special relationship with their mothers. First, they're very close when they're young, the apron strings get snipped later on in the teen years-plus, and then they seem to come full circle with the need to honor and embrace their mothers again. Mothers find it difficult to let their sons go.

Anthany Dawson has a mother who loves him dearly --- has gone through hell for him and will continue to endure the pain for as long as it takes to get justice. After she took him off life support his mother, "just about walked away" from it all. But Nancy Dawson's determination is remarkable and I'm sure only something truly understood by mothers.

It's been almost two months since Anthany died under suspicious circumstances after being 'man-handled' by the Victoria Police. The family alleges police brutality, based on information received from eyewitnesses. The police report still has not been made available to the family. Perhaps their new lawyer Sheldon Seigel who is experienced in these matters will meet with success in getting to the bottom of what really happened. Perhaps the independent RCMP investigation will be more revealing. The RCMP Serious Crimes Unit is investigating how Victoria Police handled the arrest.

Perhaps the local police will agree to lift their blanket of secrecy to answer simple enquiries such as the name of the officer involved. My understanding is that media usually quickly report who was involved in any major incident, especially involving death. Why not this time?

In all fairness to the officer, and to their credit the Dawson family despite grief and anger have said they do not have proof positive he did anything wrong, but the eyewitness allegations of brutality must be taken seriously. Nancy Dawson says, "Not just for Anthany, but so it never happens again to anyone".

From the family's perspective the deliberate police silence makes matters worse. At a news conference last month Nancy Dawson explained, "The police have not contacted me either with words of concern or condolence". This is disturbing when you consider the public relations campaign mounted by Victoria Police this year in their efforts to suggest a better relationship with the local aboriginal community.

"I'm not going to help you go after the police on this". Will those words repeated in the hospital by one staffer reflect reality when all is said and done? Many questions remain unanswered! Questions to the police by his family have been, "...met with vagueness and at times we were met with hostility", said Nancy Dawson.

What's with the use of force on Anthany, who according to an eyewitness report did not resist the police at all? What about the medical procedures in the hospital emergency room? Was it really necessary for Nancy Dawson to have to struggle to get them to listen, to pay attention? Did she have any choice but to argue so vehemently when the doctor said Anthany had a drug and alcohol overdose and a heart attack and "he wasn't going to make it". What about the obvious violence to his body? What about the blood test results did they in fact substantiate the doctor's words? When the autopsy results were inconclusive why could the family not find anyone locally to help them get a second opinion? Is it true the police from three jurisdictions ran separate licence plate checks earlier in the day on his car? If so, why?

Despite my cynicism about such things, I want you to know my words are intended to be without prejudice to the processes put in place to deal with Anthany's death, such as the coroner's inquest that will be held January 24 - 26, 28, 31 and February 1 & 2, 2000 at the Western Communities courthouse in Colwood. However, I do find it necessary to raise these matters again so you, and others with whom you share this, can decide if you or they are in a position to help the family in their search for truth, justice and perhaps even peace of mind.

It's possible, maybe even likely someone out there has information that may shed some light on what took place on that ill-fated August 11th afternoon in Victoria.Anyone with information about Anthany's activities immediately prior to and/or during the Oak Bay Avenue incident, please contact Sheldon Seigel, Suite 1, 505 Fisgard Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1R3. Phone (250) 360-2500 or Fax (250) 360-0208.

The Aboriginal community is rallying around the Dawson family in the wake of their loss of Anthany, a well-known Native artist. There is no-one saying he was a candidate for sainthood. He was a young man who had faced more than his share of the familiar challenges of an aboriginal person's life in this world. But his mother says she was very proud that after years of personal pain her son now was on the Red Road of Healing.

To show their support, aboriginal organizations have started fund raising to gather money for the family's legal costs. The BC Association of Friendship Centres has donated twenty-five hundred dollars and is challenging all other organizations to match the donation. The people of the Songhees First Nation raised nearly two thousand dollars in their community at a looney and tooney auction of donated items. At a memorial dinner in Alert Bay, Anthany's own people put hundreds of dollars into a bentwood box for him. If you can help, donations should be made to the Anthany Dawson Legal Fund --- Bank of Montreal branch 2704, account 8058797.

All My Relations!

September 24

The coroner's inquest to examine circumstances surrounding the death of Anthony Dawson, a Native artist, will be January 24 - 26, 28, 31 and February 1 & 2, 2000 at the Western Communities courthouse in Colwood.

Anthany died after being arrested by police August 11th after Victoria police say eyewitnesses told them they saw him partially clothed, running in and out of traffic on Oak Bay Avenue.

The family recently held a news conference to raise the issue of alleged police brutality, based on accounts of eyewitnesses who said they saw police officers punch and choke Anthany.

A lawyer for the family has sent notices of claim to the City of Victoria and the District of Oak Bay. Because Anthany died in custody a coroner's inquest is mandatory. Victoria Police Chief Paul Battershill has asked the RCMP to investigate the death too.

September 20, 1999

Re: Appeal for Witnesses

SUSPICIOUS DEATH - VICTORIA

Anthany DAWSON, 29 years old, was pronounced dead on Friday, August 13, 1999. At around 3:40 p.m., on Wednesday, August 11, 1999, Anthany had left a friend's home at Vancouver Street and Pandora Avenue. At approximately 4:20 p.m., he was found, in suspicious circumstances, at the intersection of Oak Bay Avenue at Bank Street. He was alive and physically active.Anyone with information about Anthany's activities immediately prior to and/or during the Oak Bay Avenue incident, please call Jennings & Associates Information line at (250) 477 - 0332 (phone/fax) or e-mail at jennings@ultranet.ca

.

Yours truly,

Jasper Smith

Director of Investigations

JENNINGS & ASSOCIATES --(A Division of Jennings Investigations Inc. Est. 1987) - International Associates Worldwide - VICTORIA: P.O. Box 27002, Langford RPO Victoria, B.C. V9B 5S4 CANADA----Phone: 250-478 3646 Fax: 250-474 7170 VANCOUVER: 118-8415 Granville Street---Vancouver, B.C. V6P 4Z9 CANADA Phone: 604-266 2463 Fax: 604-266 2461---E-Mail: minder@jenningsinvestigations.com E-Mail: vancouver@jenningsinvestigations.com ----Toll Free: 1-800-813-7388

www.jenningsinvestigations.com Please reply to: Victoria Office

"The soul wrenching pain is so hard, that at times you cannot even move."...Nancy Dawson

Son's Mysterious Death---Family Wants Further Investigation
Demands Immediate Independent Inquest
by Tehaliwaskénhas - Bob Kennedy

September 16th, 1999
Victoria, British Columbia

Next to the Royal BC Museum, tourists from far and wide, grinned with gratitude, leisurely snapped their photos and soaked up the hot September sun. Meanwhile, inside the object of their fascination - the big wooden building known to Native people as the Mungo Martin Big House, there was a much different atmosphere.

White smoke rose from a red hot fire. Grieving relatives, friends and curious reporters filled the room.

They were here because Anthany Dawson, a 29 year old member of the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Nation, a well-known and respected Native artist died mysteriously August 13th. The cause of his death is still not known and questions by his family have been, "...met with vagueness and at times we were met with hostility", said his grieving mother Nancy Dawson at a news gathering inside the Big House in Victoria.

Anthany Dawson was special, his mother explained, "He was initiated as the Hamatsa for the family. The Hamatsa is the highest rank of the potlatch system. He was on his way to becoming a legend, both in our culture and the world of artists." Struggling to hold back tears, and supported by a filled-to-capacity gathering of all her relations, she read from a press release that tells the story of alleged police brutality. It has been extremely frustrating for her to not know what happened to her only-son, a healthy and successful aboriginal person. "What is known is that before he died, and while in the custody of the Victoria City Police, one or more police officers punched Anthany repeatedly in the head or chest, and put him in a headlock or choke hold," she said.

Despite a lack of support from police, the family is working hard to piece together what they believe took place. With the help of a lawyer, private investigator and public pleas for help, witnesses have started to step forward with information on what happened that tragic day last month. Mrs. Dawson believes the police had help in their man-handling of Anthany ---"In addition, a citizen directed by the Victoria City Police sat on my son's chest for a significant period of time. Witnesses estimate the man weighed approximately 250 pounds," she said. Police claim Anthany was behaving in an unusual manner --- whatever that means. Family and friends say the young man did not have a problem with drink or drugs.

How did he die? A police news release stated he, "suffered an apparent heart attack". But the autopsy was not conclusive. So naturally, the family wants to know more about the circumstances. Eyewitness accounts state clearly that there was no resistance. He didn't resist when they punched him. He didn't resist when they choked him. He didn't resist when the big man sat on him, or when they put him face down on the stretcher in the ambulance as the man stayed on top of him. The initial police report said he was "assisted" into an ambulance.

The police silence and the attitude toward the family seem most unusual considering recent events in Victoria. Just days before Anthany died, police and the aboriginal community got together for a pole-raising ceremony to recognize their relationship-building efforts. Strange then to hear Nancy Dawson explain, "The police have not contacted me either with words of concern or condolence". For all these reasons, the family has chosen to publicly call for the Attorney General of British Columbia to hold an independent coroner's inquest, immediately.

Drumming, dancing, singing and ceremony wrapped themselves around the media event and its' visitors. All non-aboriginal except one, they found themselves in strange territory. They got a prepared statement. They got a heavy dose of a culture foreign to their everyday lives of hollywood happenings, predictable politcs, and jock-strap statistics. There was no question and answer period. They got to watch, listen and then leave as their watches warned of impending deadlines.

There were more words. Not scripted this time --- words of anger, contempt for the police, support and encouragement for the family. Other words demanded action. Yet others spoke of balance. The words of support were most important when you consider some of Nancy Dawson's own words, "The soul wrenching pain is so hard, that at times you cannot even move."

All words spoken, they then brought out the food and an opportunity to personally console the family. Meanwhile, the prayers and plenty of Northwest culture clung firmly to the smoke climbing its way to the vented roof, reaching for the brilliant Indian Summer sky and hopefully guided to the heavens.

September 15, 1999

Aboriginal people have begun to rally around the Dawson family in the wake of their loss of 29 year old Anthany, a well-known Native artist. The family alleges police brutality caused his death. The RCMP have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death in August when Anthany was taken into custody by police.

To show their support aboriginal organizations have started fund raising to gather money for the family's legal costs. The BC Association of Friendship Centres has donated twenty-five hundred dollars and is challenging all other organizations to match the donation.

September 10, 1999

The family of Anthany Dawson have called a news conference for next Wednesday, September 15th at Noon at the Mungo Martin Big House in Victoria, BC.

Dawson, a 29 year old well-known Native artist died in August under suspicious circumstances after being arrested by Victoria police. The family immediately hired a lawyer and made an appeal for eyewitnesses to come forward with information.

As a result of their own investigation, allegations were made of police brutality. Now the RCMP have investigation.

September 2, 1999

The circumstances surrounding the death of a well-known Vancouver island aboriginal artist has prompted a police investigation of the police.

RCMP Serious Crimes Unit will investigate how Victoria police handled the arrest of a local Native artist who died when taken into custody.

29 year old Anthany Dawson was apprehended last month, restrained and believed to have suffered a heart attack.The family hired a lawyer and investigator to find out what really happened.

They say an eyewitness alleged there was police brutality.

August 26, 1999

The family of a well-known British Columbia Native artist who died while in police custody have hired a lawyer and a private investigator to look into allegations that police brutality played a part in his death.

Anthony James Dawson, 29, an award-winning Native artist, died August 13 in a Victoria hospital while in a coma.

A press release issued by Scott Hall, the lawyer hired by Dawson*s family said witnesses saw a police officer on the scene punch Dawson and hold him tightly around the head and neck.

Drugs and alcohol were not involved,and Dawson was said to be in very good health and physically fit

A coroner's inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding the death. Victoria police reported he was arrested August 11th following reports he was running in and out of traffic in the 1800-block of Oak Bay Avenue.

Victoria police officers said they arrested him under the mental health Act and that he suffered what appeared to be a heart attack during the short ambulance ride to Royal Jubilee Hospital, and died there two days later.

Because he was in custody at the time of his death, a coroner's inquest is mandatory. But Dawson's family and the lawyer they hired believe there is more to the story than has been revealed by the police.

Anyone with information on Anthany Dawson's activities or who witnessed his arrest is asked to contact Jennings & Associates information line (250) 477-0332 or email at jennings@ultranet.ca

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