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Yk gathering follows Gerald Stanley verdict

More than 50 people gathered outside of the Canada Post office in downtown Yellowknife on Saturday following the acquittal of Gerald Stanley, a white Saskatchewan farmer who shot and killed Colten Boushie, a 22-year-old man from the Red Pheasant Cree Nation.

The smudging ceremony, organized by Denendeh Against the Dakota Access Pipeline, was one of many similar events taking place across the country in reaction to the not guilty verdict handed down Friday night.

Boushie was with four other young people from the Red Pheasant Cree Nation who drove on to Stanley's farm in North Battleford, Sask., on Aug. 9, 2016, when altercation occurred between them, Stanley, his son, and Stanley's wife.

Stanley claimed during the jury trial that the hand gun he was holding accidentally discharged while trying to off the ignition of the vehicle Boushie was sitting in. Boushie was unarmed and sitting in the driver's seat when he was shot.

Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members gathered together in solidarity for a smudging ceremony to mourn the death of 22-year-old Colten Boushie. Boushie was killed in North Battleford, Sask. on August 9, 2016. Gerald Stanley, the accused, was acquitted on Friday -- a controversial verdict which has triggered protests across the country. Michael Hugall/NNSL photo

The not guilty verdict has triggered outrage among Indigenous communities far and wide.

“I think that the way the media and the public responded to this, especially immediately after August 9, 2016 ... there was initially a huge amount of angry racist backlash,” said Jiah Dzentu at the smudging ceremony.

“ I don't think it should a take a high profile case like this with a verdict that came out yesterday to make people realize that we are still in a racist country. That there are still racist policies, lawmakers and that systematically we are not OK.”

For many Indigenous communities a smudging ceremony is a form of spiritual cleansing. The process begins with smoke rising from a small bowl. People stand in front of it to absorb the smoke. As the smoke reaches the air, negative energy, feelings and emotions are said to be lifted away.

Dzentu, a member of Denendeh Against the Access Pipeline (DAPL), said many of her friends and family shared similar reactions and added a time of processing and mourning is essential in moving forward.

“When I first heard of the verdict I was doing some running around.. I needed to processed it.” explains Dzentu. “When I got home later that day I had some friends come over and I just broke down crying.”

The event was organized in a matter of hours following the trial's verdict. A protest is scheduled for noon Monday at the legislative assembly.

A gofundme page for Colton Boushie's family has also been created by Denendeh Against DAPL and has raised $415 as of Feb 10.