A political group that represents Inuit in Quebec says policing within the Far North is “damaged” after an officer shot and killed an Inuk man on Tuesday.
The taking pictures by the Nunavik Police Service is the second officer-involved loss of life within the northern area since November, and has reignited anger and trauma in Nunavik. The Quebec coroner’s workplace recognized the sufferer as Mark R Annanack, 35, of Kangiqsualujjuaq.
Makivvik, a bunch that represents the Inuit of Nunavik, stated in a scathing assertion this week there’s a sample of police utilizing extreme drive within the area. “Makivvik is looking for fast and distinctive measures,” the group stated, including that whereas an unbiased investigation is important, different actions should observe.
“This disaster calls for substantial structural change in the way in which policing is delivered throughout Nunavik, we can not wait for an additional report whereas extra lives are put in danger.”
Makivvik head Pita Aatami requested what number of households should undergo earlier than the province “understands that policing in Nunavik is damaged?”
“This newest tragedy will not be remoted: it displays a systemic failure in the way in which policing is delivered in Nunavik,” Aatami stated. “Regardless of repeated warnings, commitments, and investigations, police interventions proceed to fail our communities. We condemn this fatality, and we demand fast and measurable accountability.”
Quebec’s police watchdog — Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes — stated members of the Nunavik Police Service had deliberate to arrest somebody who was inside a tent within the Inuit village on the jap shore of Ungava Bay. The police drive stated in its personal assertion that officers had a warrant for the person, however the drive stated he resisted when two officers tried to arrest him about 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
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The police drive stated officers used pepper spray on the person, who they are saying emerged from the tent with a knife. An officer tried to subdue the person with a stun gun, however because the scenario advanced an officer opened hearth and the sufferer was later declared useless at a regional well being centre.
Quebec’s police oversight company introduced Wednesday it was investigating the taking pictures in Kangiqsualujjuaq. Nunavik Police Service has declined to remark additional.
Nunavik officers are outfitted with physique cameras, and the police service confirmed video has been shared with the watchdog company.
Makivvik stated the most recent loss of life displays a failure of the police drive to de-escalate a scenario or make use of a stage of cultural understanding.
In November 2024, an officer shot and killed Joshua Papigatuk and severely injured his twin brother Garnet after police responded to a name about alleged impaired driving in Salluit, about 1,850 kilometres north of Montreal. The Quebec police watchdog can be investigating that killing.
Following Papigatuk’s killing, Makivvik stated it has labored with the Kativik Regional Authorities to create the Nunavik public security committee, tasked with reforming policing practices, guaranteeing higher accountability and interesting with local people leaders within the area.
“The committee’s mandate consists of reviewing use-of-force insurance policies, advancing Inuit-led oversight, and co-ordinating with communities immediately impacted by police violence,” the group stated.
Kativik Regional Authorities stated in its personal assertion the police watchdog wants to maneuver quicker on investigations in Nunavik, with a “agency settlement to provide full remaining stories inside six months.” In addition they need the watchdog company to convene public conferences with communities and assessment investigation outcomes with them. They need to additionally publish stories in Inuktitut.
A spokesman for Quebec Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière stated he was involved with Makivvik’s president. “I supplied him my assist in these very troublesome occasions for everybody,” the minister stated in an announcement, including he would hold shut tabs on the watchdog company’s investigation.
Jake Lamotta Granato, a spokesman for the coroner, stated coroner Francine Danais will examine Annanack’s loss of life.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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