Community not responsible for dead man

I would like to comment on the many facts misrepresented in last week’s article on the unfortunate death of Johnny Aloupa in Kuujjuaq. The credibility of the main source, Candy Ikey, as well as the statements she provided should have been verified.

After having met with the Ungava Tulattavik Health Center’s executive director, the Social Services staff, key members of the Kativik Regional Police Force, and having talked to the deceased person’s family, the facts are as follows:

Johnny Aloupa arrived in Kuujjuaq on Aug. 7 on a medevac from Quaqtaq. Two days later, he was considered fit enough to be released from the hospital, where he was slated to go back home and then later to the rehabilitation centre in Inukjuaq.

He apparently wanted to stay in Kuujjuaq longer so he convinced social service staff to that effect. He overnighted at the UTHC hospital until the morning of Aug. 20, the last time he took his pills from the hospital to combat his frequent epileptic seizures.

The hospital knew that he was liable to have a massive and possibly fatal seizure after going without his medication for three to four days. He was seen in town until at least the Aug. 31. Family members of the deceased believe that Johnny was last seen on Sept. 6 in Kuujjuaq.

On the Sept. 6, the KRPF and the municipality of Kuujjuaq were notified that Johnny was missing and that he might be in Kuujjuaq. From there, the last seen date and place were very sketchy at best.

The KRPF had to figure out his whereabouts, either in Inukjuaq or Kuujjuaq, where he may have been last seen, and to work out a search strategy. Boats, abandoned vehicles, shacks, ATV, ski-doo and bicycle trails were searched. The body was recovered around six o’clock in the evening on Friday, Sept. 10. It was under thick brush a few feet from an asphalt road.

The family and the community were notified by 8 p.m. At that time, I talked with George Peters, and recommended to him that he go on local radio on behalf of the Kuujjuaq Inn board, in order to mention whether or not the bar would remain open or not. He promptly went on the radio and, in fluent Inuttitut, explained that he had discussed the issue with me and that he was on the air on behalf of the Kuujjuaq Inn and not on behalf of the mayor.

It is unfortunate that Candy Ikey did not understand much of what George Peters said and conveyed succinctly to the population. It may have been caused either by Ikeys’ misunderstanding of Inuttitut or a lack of concentration. It is also unfortunate that the people she surrounds herself with make her feel that she is living in an open bar.

The article ends by asking the question of how Quaqtaq is feeling. After having spoken repeatedly to the family of the late Johnny Aloupa: they want answers from Social Services and they pass no blame on the population of Kuujjuaq. I have repeated this to the population of Kuujjuaq as well as regionally on CBC Iqaluit Radio, CBC Tuttavik Radio in Nunavik, and locally over CKUJ-FM.

The unfortunate incident that resulted in the death of Johnny Aloupa should never be repeated and we are committed to work with the responsible organizations towards this end.

I would like to thank all those who took part in the search including the KRPF, NVK staff, the Canadian Rangers and above all: concerned citizens of Kuujjuaq. And, of course, our deepest condolences go to the family of the late Johnny Aloupa.

Michael Gordon
Kuujjuaq