Family raises money to support relatives following western Nunavut deaths

The recent death of two young people has hit the western Nunavut community of Kugluktuk hard. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

The RCMP in Nunavut still has little to say about the sudden deaths of two young people in Kugluktuk last week.

On Aug. 3, police in the Kitikmeot community discovered the bodies of two people, whom the RCMP has since identified as a 14-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man.

Neither has been identified by police.

But RCMP spokeswoman Yvonne Niego said until results of the victims autopsies come back, police continue to investigate the circumstances of the pair’s death.

Niego said there has been a delay in processing the autopsies, which are always conducted outside the territory.

Sources in the community familiar with the deceased young people have told Nunatsiaq News that the deaths are due to a murder-suicide, in which the young man killed the young woman before taking his own life.

The deaths have hit the community of 1,500 hard, with many residents posting messages of condolences on social media.

“Love, heart-struck condolences and the most sacred of thoughts for the Ivarluk and McWilliam families and friends; so many mourn with you,” said a post on the Facebook page of Healthier Kugluktuk, a local organization that provides health and cultural support.

An online fundraising page has also been created for the Ayalik and McWilliam families, to help pay for travel expenses to bring some relatives who live in other communities to Kugluktuk.

The page was created by and for family and friends of the 14-year-old victim, who was a student at Kugluktuk high school.

“Every little bit helps towards taking the edge off for the family during this extremely difficult time,” said the fundraising site, which has raised about $1,400 so far.

You can donate on the page here.