Youth faces charges after allegedly attacking educator in Sanirajak

Young person charged with assault with a weapon, uttering threats: RCMP

A youth in Sanirajak is facing charges of assault with a weapon and uttering threats after allegedly assaulting an educator earlier this month. (File photo)

By Madalyn Howitt, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A youth in Sanirajak has been charged with assault after allegedly attacking an educator with a shovel.

RCMP spokesperson Staff Sgt. Maj. Pauline Melanson confirmed that RCMP officers in Sanirajak are investigating an incident that occurred Nov. 20.

The young person faces charges of assault with a weapon and uttering threats, after allegedly hitting a school educator on the head with a shovel, Nunatsiaq News has learned.

Nunavut Teachers’ Association president Justin Matchett said the union is aware of the situation and has been in contact with the educator to offer support.

“What I can say is that we have noticed an increase in what I would describe as serious violent incidents,” Matchett said.

He said the educator required medical staples to close the wound.

“We are seeing a trend toward open aggression and assault beyond the verbal abuse that teachers still receive,” Matchett said. “It is concerning, to say the least.”

Department of Education spokesperson Krista Amey said the department cannot comment on an ongoing RCMP investigation.

“Our top priority remains the health and safety of students and school employees,” she said.

 

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(29) Comments:

  1. Posted by Scary on

    Come work in Nunavut… it will be fun, an adventure they said…

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  2. Posted by 😂 on

    This happens in most schools across Nunavut everyday!!!

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    • Posted by Why u dum on

      The schools all need to have security guards, just like health centers

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      • Posted by Mit on

        Not just security guards, NU schools need special constables like in urban USa schools

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      • Posted by Hunter on

        security guards have no power or authority. they cannot even touch you or they could be charged with assult,

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        • Posted by Not So on

          Not so, they have the same authorities as any other person under citizen’s arrest. If they observe an indictable offence, or a person fleeing a peace officer, they can detain that person for delivery to a peace officer – exactly the same as any citizen.

          They do need to get it right though; they can’t detain and then undetain you. They can’t operate on suspicion. If you are detained and they get it wrong, they are subject to legal sanction – again, no different than any citizen.

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          • Posted by John K on

            It would need to be in-house security because very few private security companies are going to allow their employees to apprehend anyone, for anything. Similarly, I would advise members of the public NOT to attempt apprehending a perceived criminal. Not only are you risking significant injury to yourself you’re opening yourself to significant liability for which you do not have immunity.

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  3. Posted by Shovel? on

    Staples? How about head injury symptoms beyond that? That might need to be mentioned… :(…

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  4. Posted by Bob on

    I am an educator here and will be leaving soon. There is no amount of money I would stay another year for. The problems in the system, community, and government are deep and complex. I could not seriously recommend Nunavut to any teacher.

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    • Posted by Happy Travels on

      This is not an airport. You do not have to announce your departure. You can just go.

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      • Posted by Tired on

        I wonder how cavalier you will be when most of the professionals are gone?

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      • Posted by Chappy on

        Probably you should care though, right? About why teachers run for the hills? So that your kids have teachers? No?

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      • Posted by Umingmak on

        Nunavut already has a severe shortage of teachers, and has an 80% drop-out rate. Meanwhile, people complain about skilled & management positions going to southerners.

        You want more Inuit running the government? Then you should want to see these problems resolved ASAP.

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      • Posted by Sergeant Prickles on

        In your airport allegory is the OP an airplane? As a human traveler at an airport I find I don’t really have to “announce” anything to anyone, although some basic verbal interaction with ticket agents, etc. is customary.

        Maybe I’ll try it your way next time I fly, just announce my travel plans to everyone present once I walk into the terminal “Hear ye, hear ye! I am going to Ottawa!”.

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      • Posted by G-man Choi on

        Happy Travels you are so ignorant that you don’t even get it, the airport comment shows your ignorance on the subject. When all the teachers have left Nunavut because of the violence from kids that have been taught nothing about respecting their teachers, then maybe you all will understand why Nunavut will be worse off. Until then, just sit back and make your lame comments while people laugh at you.

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    • Posted by Do not leave if you are fady on

      Hey. If you are the teacher named “fady” please don’t leave. you are the best teacher.

  5. Posted by They were right… on

    Global warming is getting worse…

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  6. Posted by 180 on

    It all starts at home, kids are not being taught to respect grownups/teachers, most aren’t taught much if at all, most play in the streets and aren’t even taught to stay off the roads. Parents here let the kids run around all hours of the night, its a shame because most kids here in Nunavut raise themselves.

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    • Posted by It’s Quite Sad That They Don’t See It on

      More like Little kids being raised by slightly bigger kids.

  7. Posted by John K on

    When my wife stopped teaching in Nunavut it removed an enormous source of anxiety from our lives. The experience really soured the profession for her altogether, which is a shame given how hard she worked.

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  8. Posted by monty sling on

    Get the parents involved, that is the whole problem. Out of control kids, parents have to be responsible and be charged.. Who’s responsible for under-age children? Right.

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    • Posted by alex on

      What is under-age child? did you just mean who is responsible for children?

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      • Posted by monty sling on

        sue me for speaking eskimo style.

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    • Posted by Meh on

      Why is it someone else’s responsibility to “get the parents involved”? If the parents don’t care enough to get involved, why should anyone else?

  9. Posted by Good on

    Good. More prosecution of this sort of crime is needed.

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    • Posted by ProbabilitEE on

      I suppose it is the best that can be hoped for within the system we have, but it will amount to very little as the perpetrator is almost certainly under 18.

  10. Posted by Mit on

    These kid need to get sent to juvenile detention center or boot camp. Nunavut system is so soft on criminals these kids will end up much worse if they keep getting away with violent and criminal behaviors

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  11. Posted by John WP Murphy on

    And you are equally guilty, if you witnessed an assault and did not report it to the RCMP.
    Nothing gets resolved by bitching about it anonymously on social media

  12. Posted by nunavut next door on

    Blame the parents! It’s starts from home! No matter how you look at it and talk about it! It always starts from home! Parents of those trouble students don’t care! They only care about their addiction! Not enough social workers, not enough reliable foster home, not enough food in their fridge!

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