‘Policing in Nunavik is broken': Inuit group wants change after latest fatal shooting
The political organization that represents Inuit in Quebec says policing in the Far North is 'broken' after an officer shot and killed an Inuk man on Tuesday.
The shooting by the Nunavik Police Service is the second officer-involved death in the northern region since November.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Makivvik, a group that represents the Inuit of Nunavik, says there is a pattern of police using excessive force in the region.
In a news release, Makivvik head Pita Aatami asked how many families must suffer before the province 'understands that policing in Nunavik is broken?'
The organization says the latest death reflects a failure of the police force to de-escalate a situation or employ a level of cultural understanding.
In November 2024, an officer shot and killed Joshua Papigatuk and seriously injured his twin brother Garnet after police responded to a call about alleged impaired driving in Salluit, about 1,850 kilometres north of Montreal.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
13 hours ago
- Global News
Calgary woman loses $800k in romance scam: ‘I have nothing left'
Barbara Grant was one of many Canadians who found themsleves lonely during the pandemic. For the first time in her life, she set out to find a connection on an online dating site. That's when she met Michael Janda. 'We started talking… he said, 'You are gorgeous, I want to be with you,'' Grant said. The two quickly formed a bond. Janda's profile said he worked in the same oil and gas industry where she had built a successful career. As the weeks went by, they spoke about plans of marriage and buying a home together in Victoria, B.C. Then came the requests that preyed on her emotions. 'He told me he was caught in Doha, Qatar, carrying $1.5 million in cash,' she said, 'And police put him in jail.' Story continues below advertisement The two continued to communicate on LinkedIn after moving away from the dating site where they first connected. Over a period of nearly a year, Grant sent Janda money in several bank transfers — first to a trucking company in Ontario, then an individual in the U.S. Then one day in November, Grant realized her mistake — Janda wasn't who he said he was. 'He contacted me through LinkedIn and said, 'I can't come to Calgary any more, they've locked me up again.' He was coming to the airport and I was going to pick him up. 'I then realized it was a scam.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I then realized it was a scam." Grant lost $800,000 CAD — her life's savings. 'I have nothing left, except what's in my (Registered Retirement Income Fund). I'm devastated by it… absolutely devastated.' 4:24 Spotting romance scams Falling into a deep depression, Grant was checked into a mental health unit on multiple occasions in Calgary. She contemplated ending her own life. Story continues below advertisement Then she took action, hiring a B.C.-based private investigator to look into her case. Six months later, Denis Gagnon had compiled a 400-page report. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'It's basically a daily event,' Gagnon said, explaining his work. Gangon was able to trace the transfers Grant sent. He says those recipients are commonly referred to as 'mules.' 'The money that's being transferred goes through a mule and goes to a different account. That person takes a percentage and then sends it overseas.' But who was ultimately behind it all is still a mystery. The lengthy report was then forwarded on to the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Interests, which earlier this week ruled in favour of Grant's bank, TD. 'I want TD Canada Trust to know about what happened to me… it has ruined my life,' Grant said. 'The bank is not responsible, not accountable… they have a fiduciary responsibility to me to give me some of my money back.' 2:36 Matchmaker warns of new, advanced romance scams In 2024, TD faced fines on both sides of the Canada/U.S. border — first in May, when Fintrac fined the bank $9.2 million for a range of failures including not submitting suspicious transaction reports when there was reasonable grounds to require it to do so, not assessing and documenting money laundering/terrorist activity financing risks and for the bank not taking prescribed special measures for high risk. Story continues below advertisement CIBC and RBC were also fined similar amounts. But that number was then dwarfed months later in the United States, when TD became the largest bank in U.S. history to plead guilty to violating a federal law aimed at preventing money laundering, and agreed to pay over $3 billion in penalties to resolve the charges. In that case, TD said its program was 'insufficient to effectively monitor, detect, report, and respond to suspicious activity' and work is underway to remedy the deficiencies. 3:52 TD Bank fined $3B U.S. in money-laundering case Global News asked TD officials for a statement on improvements to that program and further protections for its clients, but did not hear back by deadline. Grant says she's looking into a debt consolidation loan in order to wipe her hands clean from a years-long ordeal that has altered her world. Story continues below advertisement But she also wants her story to serve as a warning to others — if it can happen to this savvy, successful 75-year-old, it can happen to anyone. 'When someone comes forward and is willing to talk about what happened, we really should be commending them,' explained Wes Lafortune of the Better Business Bureau of Alberta. Lafortune estimates only five per cent of these type of crimes are ultimately reported and awareness can make a huge difference. 'It's really important to report these crimes to police, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Better Business Bureau… so these organizations can determine what sort of resources can be put into this.' Gagnon says it will take much more than status quo to turn the tide on this situation. Story continues below advertisement 'I think Canada has become a bit of a target for fraudsters. In the United States, I believe the penalties are much more severe. Canada is (still working through that),' Gagnon explained. 'Most people don't break into a house now through the door. They come in through your phone — or the screen you're looking at.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Most people don't break into a house now through the door. They come in through your phone — or the screen you're looking at." Grant was ready to spend her golden years travelling, downsizing her home and spending time with her children. Now at 75, she says she'll likely return to work as a consultant in the fall. She also sells her own paintings and dances. She's quite the catch — but you won't find her on any dating sites. 'No. No. I have some good friends, that's it, that's all,' she said.
Global News
14 hours ago
- Global News
Man appeals sentence in London, Ont. Muslim family killing
The man convicted of murdering a Muslim family in London, Ont., is appealing his life sentence for an act deemed by a judge to be terrorism. Nathaniel Veltman is appealing his four convictions for first-degree murder and his conviction for attempted murder, for which he was sentenced in February 2024, according to court documents. His lawyer had already indicated he planned to file an appeal a couple of months after he was sentenced last year. Veltman was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years for hitting the Afzaal family with his truck in 2021 while they were out for a walk in London, Ont. Forty-six-year-old Salman Afzaal; his 44-year-old wife, Madiha Salman; their 15-year-old daughter, Yumna; and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal were killed in the attack. Story continues below advertisement The couple's nine-year-old child was hurt but survived. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Justice Renee Pomerance, who presided over the trial held in Windsor, Ont., ruled the murders committed by a self-described white nationalist were an act of terrorism. The case was the first time Canada's terrorism laws were put before a jury in a first-degree murder trial. Prosecutors had argued Veltman was a white supremacist with a plan to commit violence, while the defence argued his actions shouldn't be considered terrorism because he kept his beliefs to himself. But Pomerance rejected that argument, finding that Veltman only kept his beliefs private to avoid detection before he could carry out his plan. At a sentencing hearing in January, Veltman apologized for the pain he had caused but that apology was rejected by the victims' family members outside of court. The attack on June 6, 2021 shocked the country, with a memorial held in the city and attended by leaders from across Canada. On Friday, the four-year anniversary of the attack, Prime Minister Mark Carney remembered the victims. 'We mourn the loss today of… the Afzaal family, who four years ago this day in London were victims of a heinous act of terrorism,' Carney said. Story continues below advertisement 'Gatherings like today remind us all of those who are absent. Friends and family who once prayed beside us but who no longer can. And it's in these moments that we lean on our faith. A faith that carries us through the tough times. A faith that brings joy shining through the darkest clouds' — with files from The Canadian Press
Global News
14 hours ago
- Global News
Toronto man who deliberately shot an unarmed stranger given life sentence
A Toronto man who shot and killed an unarmed stranger has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 18 years. Superior Court Justice Maureen Forestell called the murder of John Wheeler 'profoundly serious' give it was the result of the fact that 18-year-old Christopher Mitchell wanted to avoid potentially being apprehended by police for a break-and-enter. Last October, Mitchell pleaded guilty to second-degree murder admitting that on Aug. 12, 2020, he shot and killed Wheeler with a shotgun outside the apartment building at 1350 Danforth Rd. where Wheeler lived. Mitchell and another person attended the apartment complex with the intention of breaking into a convenience store. They were in an alcove near the store when Wheeler emerged from the lobby of the apartment building to make his way to work. Wheeler glanced in the direction of the alcove and looked at his phone before moving to the driveway to wait for his ride to work. Mr. Mitchell believed that Mr. Wheeler was contacting the police. Mr. Mitchell removed a shotgun from the duffel bag he was carrying. He crept up behind Mr. Wheeler and shot him in the back. Story continues below advertisement Wheeler, a 45-year-old man who delivered drywall for a living, had texted his friend to tell him he was outside and ready to be picked up. In victim impact statements delivered in court Monday, Wheeler, who was 45 and the youngest of 12 children, was described as a kind, funny, hardworking and generous man. Reading from her reasons for sentence, Forestell said, 'The loss of a loved one is always difficult but when that loss is the result of senseless violence it is even more painful. In addition to the impact on the family and friends of Mr. Wheeler, crimes like this one impact the entire community. A good, hardworking man waiting to go to work was shot and killed in a targeted manner. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'This type of offence undermines our collective sense of safety and security in our community.' A psychological report prepared by Dr. Giorgio Ilacqua found that Mitchell, the eldest of four siblings, suffered significant physical abuse as a child. As a result, he was placed in group home and foster care by age 15 because of the physical abuse. Court heard that Mitchell was raised by his mother because his father was in the criminal justice system and has had no contact with his father for the last five years. He also also been diagnosed with mental illnesses and a substance abuse disorder. Story continues below advertisement 'At around 12 years of age, Mr. Mitchell began to hear voices. He was assessed at one point at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. However, he did not receive any treatment or medication for these conditions until after his arrest on the charge before me. He is presently taking antipsychotic medication and antidepressants,' Forestell said. Court heard Mitchell has also abused substances since age 11. Mr. Mitchell admitted Ilacqua that he became involved in criminal activity in his teens and that this included selling drugs. Mr. Mitchell left school after Grade 10. While attending school he was frequently suspended, including for fighting, stabbing and guns. Since his incarceration, Mr. Mitchell has completed high school and has begun college-level courses. While in custody, Mr. Mitchell has also pursued Bible study. Ilacqua administered a series of psychological tests. He diagnosed Mitchell with post-traumatic stress Disorder with psychotic features, depression, anxiety and substance use disorder. He relates these conditions to Mr. Mitchell's dysfunctional childhood and the abuse that he experienced. The risk assessment conducted by Ilacqua places Mr. Mitchell at high risk for future involvement in the justice system but Ilacqua opines that appropriate monitoring, structure and intervention could likely decrease the risk. During an interview with Global News outside the courthouse, Wheeler's niece said the family was anxious for the sentencing to be finished after nearly five years. Arlene Stuckless said she was angry for years and has been through an emotional rollercoaster. Story continues below advertisement 'There are a lot of people who could be watching this right now, going, 'Oh, this poor family, it's not going to happen to us' but you don't know honestly,' said Stuckless. Stuckless said she is hopeful that Mitchell can be rehabilitated and wants to see more social services for young men like Mitchell who come from broken homes. 'They're only outlet is to be running on the streets and then they get hooked up with the wrong people, they get their hands on that gun and they think they're big tough guys and they're not,' said Stuckless. Wheeler's niece said the family believes a life sentence with a parole ineligibility period of 18 years is a sentence that should give Mitchell time to work on himself. 'For him to be incarcerated that long — hopefully, he doesn't get involved with the wrong people and go to the wrong path and he takes the time he's given and he does something good with his life and then when he does getting out of jail, he can help other young, maybe,' Stuckless added.
