Jeremy Nuvviaq, 39, died at his home in Sanirajak on May 1, 2017 after an altercation with police. (File photo courtesy of the Nuvviaq family)
Inquest called into 2017 shooting death of Inuk man
Jeremy Nuvviaq, 39, died after RCMP officers were called to his Sanirajak home
An official inquest into the 2017 death of an Inuk man in Sanirajak has been announced by Nunavut’s chief coroner.
Jeremy Nuvviaq, 39, died on May 1, 2017, after being shot by RCMP officers who were called to his home. Earlier that evening Nuvviaq had been live-streaming a video from his Facebook page in which he threatened “suicide by cop.”
The inquest will explore the circumstances surrounding the death of Nuvviaq and to consider recommendations to prevent death in similar circumstances.
The inquest is scheduled to be held at the community hall in Sanirajak between Feb. 28 and March 4.
It will be led by the coroner’s counsel, Sheldon Toner, and presided over by Nunavut chief coroner Khen Sagadraca.
Suicide is always very tragic, but these inquests are unnecessary. A similar headline could read, “Inquest called into 2017 subdural hematoma death of man who decided to jump to his death from a tall building”. If this man wasn’t able to accomplish what he wanted to by cop, he either would have found another way or he wouldn’t spent the majority of his life locked away.
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These inquest dollars would be much better spent towards adequate housing, food security, stability, activities, education, and training to youth to provide a sense of community and hope, and work towards more of the population not feeling like they need to do this to escape.
Suicide is never the answer. In some cases, an inquest is warranted, but from what we know, this was this man’s intended outcome and there is not much else worth examining.
Condolences to his family for losing this man to the selfless act of suicide, and to the brave men and women of the RCMP who now have to live with having taken this man’s life.