Elsipogtog community walks in honour of man killed by RCMP

About 100 people took part in a walk and rally Sunday night in the Mi'kmaw community of Elsipogtog, in eastern New Brunswick, in honour of Iggy Dedam, a 34-year-old who was shot and killed by police in his home on Sept. 8.

Participants included family, friends, band council representatives as well as the families of Chantel Moore and Rodney Levi, two other Indigenous people who were shot and killed by police in New Brunswick, in June 2020.

They walked from the Elsipogtog commercial centre to the RCMP building, where they chanted and drummed, and then proceeded to the Chief Young Eagle Recreation Centre, where a number of people spoke at a microphone.

"Where is the change?" said Glogowej Denny, the niece of Rodney Levi, of Metepenagiag First Nation.

A photo of Iggy Dedam, supplied by his sister, Amber Joseph. The Serious Incident Response Team is investigating the RCMP shooting of Dedam. (Submitted by Amber Joseph)

Denny read out some of the recommendations from the inquest after Levi's death.

In situations involving mental wellness checks in First Nations communities, the RCMP should not be the first, but be on standby, said Denny.

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Mobile crisis units should be dispatched along with other emergency services, she said.

"He shouldn't have been shot," said Denny.

The New Brunswick RCMP are disputing that the call was a "wellness check," but never provided clarity on how they define such a call.

Denny said she is still deeply troubled by what happened to her uncle. She said she has a panic attack every time she sees the RCMP at someone's home in the community.

Dedam's brother, Samuel Dedam, acknowledged people are feeling a lot of anger, but said he wanted people to remember warm, happy memories of his brother while justice is pursued.

Martha Martin stood on stage with her granddaughter, Gracie, the daughter of Chantel Moore.

Nelson Augustine, Iggy Dedam's uncle, described his nephew as a very kind-hearted and generous man, who had a tremendous impact on many lives. (Lars Schwarz/CBC)

Martin said she wanted to stand in solidarity with the people of Elsipogtog and encouraged people to raise their voices to say "enough is enough."

"Police keep failing our people," she said.

Nelson Augustine, Dedam's uncle, described his nephew as a very kind-hearted and generous man who had a tremendous impact on many lives.

Augustine said his own son, for example, had done much better for himself since he started fishing with Dedam several years ago.

Augustine said he was shocked by what happened and he was glad so many people had turned out for the walk.

Dedam's brother, Samuel Dedam, acknowledged that people are feeling a lot of anger, but said he wanted people to remember warm, happy memories of his brother while justice is pursued. (Lars Schwarz/CBC)

Augustine talked about the RCMP's historical role in controlling Indigenous populations and said the force still seems to be treating his people that way.

His comments got a standing ovation from the crowd in the rec hall.

Teagan Copage, a band councillor, said he was shocked, disappointed and absolutely disgusted by what happened to Dedam.

"How many more of us have to die before they get it?" he said.

"It doesn't matter how many of us join the RCMP. We're always going to be outnumbered," said Copage.

He urged the community to stick together to press for justice. Members of the crowed raised their fists in solidarity.

'How many more of us have to die before they get it?' said Teagan Copage, a band councillor. (Lars Schwarz/CBC)

Afterwards, outside the hall, the director of Indige-Watch in Elsipogtog said her organization had not been called to aid in the emergency response to Dedam's house.

"I am outraged because we should have been there," said Patrice Dedam, who is also a family member of the deceased.

"We should have a crisis response team that is fully equipped to be able to respond to these wellness checks," she said.

Indige-Watch had been called to Dedam's house last winter, and the situation was resolved peacefully, said Patrice.

"I support my team, and I'm going to make sure this never happens again," she said.