First Nation man shot and killed by police 1 year after father's death in police shooting

WARNING: This story contains distressing details, including references to the Indian residential school system.

Just over a year after his father was shot and killed by a police officer in Kenora, Ont., Eric Nothing's family has identified him as the victim of a police shooting in Deer Lake First Nation that occurred earlier this week.

Ontario's police watchdog is investigating the incident, which took place in the remote Oji-Cree community in northwestern Ontario Tuesday afternoon. 

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) went to a residence in Deer Lake around 1:30 p.m. local time that day with a warrant to arrest a man, who then fled from the house.

"There was an interaction, and one NAPS officer discharged his firearm at the man. Officers provided first aid and the man was taken to a nursing station where he was pronounced deceased," the SIU said in a news release issued Wednesday.

Nothing's uncle, Joshua Frogg, described his nephew as a hard worker and a good person. During the community's recent evacuation due to a nearby wildfire, Nothing stayed behind to help with building maintenance and look after people's pets.

"He volunteered to help in any crisis situation," Joshua Frogg told CBC News in an interview Thursday. "He was a very caring individual."

About 1,100 people live in Deer Lake, which is about 580 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay. 

Earlier this month, the SIU cleared a Kenora officer with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) of any wrongdoing in connection with the death of Bruce Wallace Frogg — Nothing's father — at Anicinabe Park in June 2024. 

In that case, Nishnawbe Aski Nation — which represents 49 First Nations across Treaties 9 and 5 — described the investigation as "severely flawed."

"We reject the conclusion that the officers' actions were reasonable and justified," Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler said in a statement.

I hate to say this, but it's just the reality for us as a family and maybe as Indigenous peoples, that the system is designed to fail us.- Joshua Frogg, Eric Nothing's uncle

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of police that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

The agency says two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the Deer Lake case, as well as one subject official and one witness official. 

"I have nothing good to say about the SIU," Joshua Frogg said. "We have no trust in them."

While the SIU initially identified Nothing as a 45-year-old man, spokesperson Kristy Denette confirmed to CBC News that he was in fact 40, and that the information initially received by the agency was incorrect.

According to Denette, "the arrest warrant was in relation to assault."

However, the family's experience with Bruce Wallace Frogg's investigation has made them leery of how the agency may handle Nothing's case, said Joshua Frogg.

"I hate to say this, but it's just the reality for us as a family and maybe as Indigenous peoples, that the system is designed to fail us," Joshua Frogg said. "There is no justice."

Wapekeka, Deer Lake First Nations in mourning 

In a news release issued Wednesday evening, the OPP Northwest Region said that "at the request of the NAPS, the OPP is investigating the circumstances leading up to NAPS attendance as well as the immediate situation at the scene as officers arrived."

"The OPP investigation is separate from that of the SIU, which is investigating the police-involved interaction," the OPP says.

Joshua Frogg said Nothing grew up in Wapekeka First Nation and moved to Deer Lake when he got married. He called his nephew an intergenerational residential school survivor, and said he was affected by the experiences of his father, grandmother and other relatives who were forced to attend residential schools.

From celebrations to funerals, Joshua Frogg said Nothing was always involved in the community, and that Deer Lake and Wapekeka are grieving him together.

As the SIU investigation unfolds, Joshua Frogg said he wants a separate agency to look into Nothing's death that is not staffed by former police officers.

"[The police are] basically investigating themselves, and that is not a good thing in our view," he said.

Jeremy Sawanis, a band councillor for Deer Lake, posted on Facebook that a prayer service was being held Wednesday in Nothing's honour.

"Chief and council would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of late Eric Nothing," Sawanis wrote.

In the meantime, Joshua Frogg said the family is focusing on laying Nothing to rest and taking care of his wife and children.

The OPP is asking anyone with information or video footage — including surveillance, dash cam, cell phone and social media — taken near the intersection of Police Station Road and Water Treatment Road in Deer Lake on Tuesday between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., to contact the service at 1-888-310-1122.

People can also submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.

Mental health counselling and crisis support is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Hope for Wellness hotline at 1-855-242-3310 or by online chat at www.hopeforwellness.ca.