One dead after fatal police shooting in Inukjuak, Que.
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This is the 3rd fatal police shooting in Nunavik in 8 months
One person is dead after being shot by police in Inukjuak, Que., marking the third fatal police shooting in Nunavik in eight months.
In a statement to CBC News, Quebec’s police watchdog, the Bureau des Enquêtes Indépendantes (BEI), said it has launched an independent investigation into the shooting, which occurred Thursday evening.
BEI investigators are flying to the community Friday morning. The Nunavik Police Service (NPS) has declined to comment, with the case now in BEI’s hands.
Inukjuak Mayor Bobby Epoo said the community is in mourning, and he is waiting to speak to BEI investigators before commenting further.
He said he hopes police can stop resorting to firearms during confrontations.
Thursday’s incident comes after two other fatal police shootings in Nunavik in recent months. Mark R Annanack was killed in Kangiqsualujjuaq two months ago, and in November 2024, Joshua Papigatuk was killed in Salluit, while his brother, Garnet, was seriously injured.
Following Papigatuk’s killing, the Kativik Regional Government (KRG) and the Makivvik Corporation announced a new public safety committee, tasked with reviewing policing practices, ensuring better accountability and engaging with local community leaders in the region.
The BEI has completed its investigation into the Salluit shooting, and has submitted it to Quebec’s Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions, which said it’s still reviewing the case before deciding whether to lay charges or not.
After Annanack’s death, KRG passed a resolution calling for a review of police operations and ways to make policing better reflect Inuit culture. KRG has civilian oversight over NPS.
The resolution stated that KRG was working with Makivvik to help it find an auditor, who would report back to the council by fall 2025.
The shooting in Inukjuak has not yet been logged on Quebec’s Office of Independent Investigations database, as of Friday morning. Currently, the database shows there have been 16 police-related deaths in Nunavik since 2017.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Burnout amongst Canada’s federal police may contribute to Nunavut policing problems, says top cop, The Canadian Press
Finland: Police response times up to an hour slower in Arctic Finland, Yle News
United States: Lack of village police leads to hiring cops with criminal records in Alaska: Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Public Media
