Jury at Kimmirut, Nunavut coroner's inquest calls for declaration of suicide crisis
Jury declared George Arlooktoo, who stabbed himself during a confrontation with RCMP, died by suicide
WARNING: This story contains details of a death by suicide.
The jury in a Kimmirut, Nunavut coroner's inquest has recommended that the Government of Nunavut declare a suicide crisis in the territory.
The recommendation comes after a week of witness testimony at the coroner's inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Kimmirut resident George Arlooktoo, who stabbed himself during a confrontation with RCMP officers on Feb. 9, 2019.
Over several days, the jury heard evidence from RCMP, family members, and medical professionals about the circumstances surrounding Arlooktoo's death.
They determined that George Arlooktoo died by suicide on February 9, 2019 at 5 p.m. at the Kimmirut health centre, from multiple stab wounds to the neck.
The recommendation that a territory-wide suicide crisis be declared was one of 32 total recommendations the jury issued during the inquest.
It comes as the Canadian Mental Health Association's most recent report on mental health found that the rates of suicide and self-harm in Nunavut are, respectively, five and six times higher than the national average.
Another recommendation provided by the jury is for the RCMP to always have three officers in Kimmirut. According to Cpl. Muhammed Agha of Nunavut's Major Crime unit, who was the RCMP's sole witness as part of the inquest, the community is supposed to have three officers — two constables and a corporal serving as the Kimmirut detachment's commander.
Cpl. Agha testified on Friday morning that while an officer is serving as the acting commander, the full-time position is vacant. The officer testified that the full-time position is being advertised internally within the RCMP.
CBC News has requested interviews with the RCMP and the Nunavut government on the inquest and the recommendations.
Other recommendations provided by the inquest's jury include that Nunavut's chief coroner ensures inquests happen in a "timely" manner, and for the Hamlet of Kimmirut to provide a space for youth programming.
Witnesses and experts testify
After jury selection was completed and the lawyers representing the Coroner's office, the RCMP, and the Nunavut government gave their opening statements, witnesses with firsthand accounts of what happened gave their testimonies.
One of them was George's aunt, Leevee Arlooktoo, who said she was very close with her nephew and she would spend time with him every day. Leevee said that just before George took his own life, she took two guns that George had with him, fearing he would hurt himself after he said he was scared.
Leevee, along with another resident and the two RCMP officers that were stationed in the community at the time, later tried to speak with George through the door of his home, which he would not open.
Sgt. Dustin Grant, who was the RCMP detachment commander in Kimmurut at the time of Arlooktoo's death, was one one the RCMP officers who responded to the call that day.
He testified that George was making suicidal comments and that he was not acting like himself.
Grant also testified that George expressed his fear of returning to jail as a result of being sexually assaulted during a previous stint at the Aaqqigiarvik Correctional Healing Facility, then called the Baffin Correctional Centre.
The forensic pathologist who completed George's autopsy was Dr. Alfredo Walker. He testified that George stabbed himself 14 times in the neck, and the extent of his injuries were such that nobody could have survived them.
Jannine Bowen, who was stationed as a nurse at the health centre during the incident, testified that more training of all staff, not just medical professionals, would be useful. She also said that newer equipment is necessary in the Kimmirut health centre.
The Ottawa Police Service investigated the actions of the RCMP officers who responded to the call at Arlooktoo's residence. Their lead investigator, Det. Sgt. Kevin Jacobs, testified that neither Grant nor Cpl. Bayden Austring, the other RCMP officer who responded to the call, acted "outside the law, maliciously, or recklessly."
The Nunavut government's only witness was Aspinas Mutema, the acting warden of the Aaqqigiarvik Correctional Healing Facility. Mutema said while he didn't know Arlooktoo personally during his stays at the jail, written records indicated that Arlooktoo had completed programs related to substance abuse, alternates to violence, and Inuit culture while incarcerated there.
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