The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
A police officer lost part of his finger while helping to end an illegal sit-in at the Pelican Narrows band office last week. Staff Sgt. Scott McMillan's ring finger was slammed in a door, and police are investigating whether the act was intentional. "Nobody is saying it was malicious or accidental," said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Brian Jones. "That's just one of the things that we're going to take a look at." Witnesses told CBC that protesters rushed to close the door, trying to keep band members opposed to the sit-in from entering, when the officer's finger accidentally got caught. The protesters had occupied the office for several days to demonstrate against the way gas and tobacco tax refunds are distributed to band members. Staff Sgt. McMillan, a 31-year veteran of the RCMP, was treated and released from hospital and is currently recovering at home. Pelican Narrows is a First Nation community 120 kilometres northwest of Flin Flon.8/26/2004
