But a gift and apology were rejected. The nation’s leaders expected the two Vancouver Police Department (VPD) constables who arrested Heilchuk man Maxwell Johnson and his granddaughter in 2019 to attend the ceremony to apologize in person. Neither Mitchel Tong nor Canon Wong appeared. “We are deeply saddened and hurt by this decision of these two men, because it is their decision and no one else’s,” said Heiltsuk Chief Kelly Brown. “The Heiltsuk Nation sent multiple invitations to Mitchel Tong and Canon Wong.” Palmer told CBC News that the officers could not attend for personal reasons. Maxwell Johnson inside the large house in Bella Bella, BC, late Monday after expressing his anger and frustration that the two Vancouver police officers who handcuffed him and his granddaughter did not attend an apology ceremony. (Angela Sterritt/CBC) Johnson, who was handcuffed outside a Bank of Montreal branch in downtown Vancouver with his then 12-year-old granddaughter after staff called police while trying to set up a bank account for her, also expressed frustration and anger at the absence of officers. He said he won’t be able to heal until he apologizes directly to the officers. “It’s been very traumatic the last three years,” he said.
“I cannot accept this gift”
While the apology celebration did not go ahead, Heilchuk leaders held a lift ceremony for Johnson’s family to help them heal from the incident. Police board members and officers attended the event, along with around 150 guests and several journalists. During speeches at the ceremony, Heilchuk leaders condemned Palmer for previously denying that the officers who arrested Johnson and his granddaughter were racist. “I heard the Vancouver police chief say there was no racism in this police department, but this [human rights] The court found there was,” said hereditary chief Frank Brown. Hereditary Chief Frank Brown addresses officers during the raising ceremony for Maxwell Johnson and his family at the big house in Bella Bella, BC, on Monday. (Cad Hipolito/The Canadian Press) Referring to the handcuffing of Johnson and his granddaughter, he added: “The light shined on the ugly face of racism in Vancouver by the City of Vancouver Police.” Brown then walked across the floor to where Palmer sat with other police officials and returned a feast the VPD had given the hereditary chiefs. “With all due respect I cannot accept this gift,” Brown said to applause from the packed house. Despite the strong emotions, Palmer told reporters he thought it was a thoughtful ceremony. “The ceremony tonight was very powerful and impactful and we want to move forward in a positive way with the Nation of Hailchuk, what they want to do and what we want to do,” he told reporters. Maxwell Johnson shakes hands with Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer after the ceremony at the big house in Bella Bella, BC, on Monday. (Cad Hipolito/The Canadian Press) Palmer also told CBC News that he would be in discussions with Heiltsuk to consider arrangements to bring the two officers to Bella Bella to apologize in person. “That’s something we’re going to work on with our union and the officers and see if we can find a solution to that.” On Tuesday, the Hailchuk Nation issued a statement saying Constables Wong and Tong “never apologized in person to Maxwell Johnson and his family since the incident occurred.” He also said the officers were never approached with such an apology.
Heiltsuk chief-elect calls union release ‘misinformation’
Outgoing Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart, who also chairs the city’s police board, said it was disappointing that constables did not attend the ceremony. “I think that sends, definitely, the wrong message,” he said. Stewart said he had been told the Vancouver Police Association was opposed to the idea of constables Wong and Tong going to Bella Bella for the ceremony. But in a statement, Vancouver Police Association president Ralph Kaisers said Wong and Tong were “unable to attend for personal reasons” and that they apologized to Johnson in person and in written letters. In a statement of her own, Heiltsuk Chief-elect Marilynn Slett called the union’s release “misinformation” and that neither Wong nor Tong had ever apologized, but she still hoped they would come to Bella Bella to do so.
“We have to close”
As part of the elevation ceremony, Johnson, his granddaughter and his son, who witnessed the handcuffing, brushed themselves with cedar branches and said the ceremony would help take away the pain of the event. Johnson said he wanted to provide prints of his artwork to the VPD, but would wait until the two officers decided to come to the community in person. “If any of you can tell them I really wish they could come so we can all get some closure,” he said. “This part of our culture, we have to shut down,” he said. “We’re not done yet, we have to have that forgiveness.” Maxwell Johnson and his granddaughter attend a ceremony in Bella Bella, BC (Angela Sterritt/CBC)
