Latest news with #PitaAatami
CBC
10-05-2025
- CBC
Inuit group demands change from Nunavik police after officer kills Inuk man
A 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, and has reignited anger and trauma in Nunavik. The Quebec coroner's office identified the victim as Mark R Annanack, 35, of Kangiqsualujjuaq. Makivvik, a group that represents the Inuit of Nunavik, said in a scathing statement this week there is a pattern of police using excessive force in the region. "Makivvik is calling for immediate and exceptional measures," the organization said, adding that while an independent investigation is necessary, other actions must follow. "This crisis demands substantial structural change in the way policing is delivered across Nunavik, we cannot wait for another report while more lives are put at risk." Makivvik head Pita Aatami asked how many families must suffer before the province "understands that policing in Nunavik is broken?" "This latest tragedy is not isolated: it reflects a systemic failure in the way policing is delivered in Nunavik," Aatami said. "Despite repeated warnings, commitments, and investigations, police interventions continue to fail our communities. We condemn this fatality, and we demand immediate and measurable accountability." Quebec's police watchdog — Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes — said members of the Nunavik Police Service had planned to arrest someone who was inside a tent in the Inuit village on the eastern shore of Ungava Bay. The police force said in its own statement that officers had a warrant for the man, but the force said he resisted when two officers tried to arrest him about 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The police force said officers used pepper spray on the man, who they say emerged from the tent with a knife. An officer tried to subdue the man with a stun gun, but as the situation evolved an officer opened fire and the victim was later declared dead at a regional health centre. Quebec's police oversight agency announced Wednesday it was investigating the shooting in Kangiqsualujjuaq. Nunavik Police Service has declined to comment further. Nunavik officers are equipped with body cameras, and the police service confirmed video has been shared with the watchdog agency. Makivvik said 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. The Quebec police watchdog is also investigating that killing. Following Papigatuk's killing, Makivvik said it has worked with the Kativik Regional Government to create the Nunavik public safety committee, tasked with reforming policing practices, ensuring better accountability and engaging with local community leaders in the region. "The committee's mandate includes reviewing use-of-force policies, advancing Inuit-led oversight, and co-ordinating with communities directly impacted by police violence," the organization said. Kativik Regional Government said in its own statement the police watchdog needs to move faster on investigations in Nunavik, with a "firm agreement to produce complete final reports within six months." They also want the watchdog agency to convene public meetings with communities and review investigation results with them. They should also publish reports in Inuktitut. A spokesman for Quebec Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière said he was in contact with Makivvik's president. "I offered him my support in these very difficult times for everyone," the minister said in a statement, adding he would keep close tabs on the watchdog agency's investigation.
National Observer
09-05-2025
- National Observer
Inuit group calls for Nunavik Police reform after latest fatal shooting
A 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, and has reignited anger and trauma in Nunavik. The Quebec coroner's office identified the victim as Mark R Annanack, 35, of Kangiqsualujjuaq. Makivvik, a group that represents the Inuit of Nunavik, said in a scathing statement this week there is a pattern of police using excessive force in the region. "Makivvik is calling for immediate and exceptional measures," the organization said, adding that while an independent investigation is necessary, other actions must follow. "This crisis demands substantial structural change in the way policing is delivered across Nunavik, we cannot wait for another report while more lives are put at risk." Makivvik head Pita Aatami asked how many families must suffer before the province "understands that policing in Nunavik is broken?" "This latest tragedy is not isolated: it reflects a systemic failure in the way policing is delivered in Nunavik,' Aatami said. "Despite repeated warnings, commitments, and investigations, police interventions continue to fail our communities. We condemn this fatality, and we demand immediate and measurable accountability.' Quebec's police watchdog — Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes — said members of the Nunavik Police Service had planned to arrest someone who was inside a tent in the Inuit village on the eastern shore of Ungava Bay. The police force said in its own statement that officers had a warrant for the man, but the force said he resisted when two officers tried to arrest him about 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Makivvik, a group that represents the Inuit of Nunavik, said in a scathing statement this week there is a pattern of police using excessive force in the region. "Makivvik is calling for immediate and exceptional measures," the organization said. The police force said officers used pepper spray on the man, who they say emerged from the tent with a knife. An officer tried to subdue the man with a stun gun, but as the situation evolved an officer opened fire and the victim was later declared dead at a regional health centre. Quebec's police oversight agency announced Wednesday it was investigating the shooting in Kangiqsualujjuaq. Nunavik Police Service has declined to comment further. Nunavik officers are equipped with body cameras, and the police service confirmed video has been shared with the watchdog agency. Makivvik said 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. The Quebec police watchdog is also investigating that killing. Following Papigatuk's killing, Makivvik said it has worked with the Kativik Regional Government to create the Nunavik public safety committee, tasked with reforming policing practices, ensuring better accountability and engaging with local community leaders in the region. "The committee's mandate includes reviewing use-of-force policies, advancing Inuit-led oversight, and co-ordinating with communities directly impacted by police violence," the organization said. Kativik Regional Government said in its own statement the police watchdog needs to move faster on investigations in Nunavik, with a "firm agreement to produce complete final reports within six months." They also want the watchdog agency to convene public meetings with communities and review investigation results with them. They should also publish reports in Inuktitut. A spokesman for Quebec Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière said he was in contact with Makivvik's president. "I offered him my support in these very difficult times for everyone," the minister said in a statement, adding he would keep close tabs on the watchdog agency's investigation. Jake Lamotta Granato, a spokesman for the coroner, said coroner Francine Danais will investigate Annanack's death.
Global News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
‘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.
Winnipeg Free Press
09-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Policing in Nunavik is broken': Inuit group wants change after latest fatal shooting
MONTREAL – 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. 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. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 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. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2025.
CBC
01-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Elections Canada apologizes to Nunavik voters left out of vote
Elections Canada has apologized to voters in Nunavik who were unable to cast a vote in Monday's federal election. CBC News has heard from residents in several Nunavik communities who reported issues at polling stations, including some that closed early or didn't open at all. Earlier this week, Elections Canada said bad weather affected flights for workers, and they struggled with local recruitment. "I deeply regret that some electors in Nunavik were not able to cast their vote. To them, I apologize," said chief electoral officer Stéphane Perrault in a written statement on Wednesday. According to Makivvik president Pita Aatami, nine of Nunavik's 14 villages did not have local polling staff, so Elections Canada had to fly people in from elsewhere. That led to polls in many of those villages closing early. "It showed us how Inuit were made to feel like their right to vote was taken away from them … the issue has to be resolved before the next election," he said in Inuktitut. Perrault's statement says that over the past three years, Elections Canada has made it a priority to remove barriers to voting services for Indigenous electors. "Nevertheless, the shortcomings of our services in Nunavik during the general election underscore the importance of the work that remains," he said. "Elections Canada will review the circumstances that led to this situation, as well as the measures taken during this election to improve voting services to Indigenous electors. We will publish the findings." Fair and equal access for all Indigenous communities Mandy Gull-Masty, the new MP for Abitibi–Baie-James–Nunavik–Eeyou, said she was fielding calls from people in Nunavik throughout election day. She said she's gathered those complaints and submitted them to the compliance officer. Now that she's elected, Gull-Masty said she would work toward introducing a bill to Parliament to address some of the shortcomings that might come from the Elections Canada report. Two issues stand out to her already: the engagement with locals to help at polling stations, and the lack of communication in Indigenous languages. "People need to come to the community sooner. There needs to be more engagement with the local municipal offices. There are a lot of corporate secretaries that have experience in running an election," she said. "The use of language would remove so many barriers for so many people. Having access to information in their own written language, not just Nunavik but also [elsewhere] like Eeyou Istchee. We have a lot of people fluent in Cree and do not speak English and French." Some voters CBC News spoke to also said there were no advance polls in their communities, and they were not aware of any recruitment drive for getting locals on board. Mail-in issues The voting issues weren't just limited to polling stations. Some Nunavik residents, like high school teacher Taylor Adams, didn't receive their special ballots by mail despite having applied weeks prior to the deadline. "All of our mail comes from Montreal … I think the earliest we can get mail from Montreal is generally about three weeks," the Puvirnituq resident said. "I just thought that maybe with the election they would have some kind of an express postage system, if it said 'Elections Canada' on the ballot." Once an elector's application for a special ballot is approved, they're unable to vote another way, such as in-person at advance polls, according to Elections Canada. For those who did get their special ballots, Adams also wonders whether they would have even made it back to Elections Canada in time for the count. "People already have a fearfulness of the systems that are in place and this really doesn't help," Adams said.
