N.W.T. coroner calls inquest into death of woman in RCMP custody

Garth Eggenberger, chief coroner of the N.W.T., pictured in 2015. Eggenberger has called an an inquest into the death of Sylvia Panaktalok, who died on July 31, 2021, while in police custody. (Vince Robinet/CBC - image credit)
Garth Eggenberger, chief coroner of the N.W.T., pictured in 2015. Eggenberger has called an an inquest into the death of Sylvia Panaktalok, who died on July 31, 2021, while in police custody. (Vince Robinet/CBC - image credit)

The Office of the Chief Coroner of the N.W.T. will hold an inquest into the death of Sylvia Panaktalok.

Panaktalok died on July 31, 2021, a few hours after being taken into RCMP custody in Tuktoyaktuk for public intoxication.

Police in Calgary were called in to investigate the 54-year-old's death, which is standard procedure for an external agency to investigate deaths that happen in police custody.

In September 2023, Calgary police deemed her death "non-criminal".

"This means no charges will be laid, and the name of the woman and the cause of death will not be publicly released by the Calgary Police Service."

In a news release Monday, the coroner's office said the inquest is scheduled to take place in Inuvik at the Mackenzie Hotel, beginning on Oct. 1.

The inquest is being called under the Coroners Act, which states that the chief coroner can direct an inquest if they become aware of the death of a person who had been detained or in custody involuntarily.