Published Sep. 12, 2024

The RCMP shooting death of Steve “Iggy” Dedam, a Mi’gmaq man from Elsipogtog First Nation, on September 8, 2024, has prompted the six Wolastoqey chiefs in New Brunswick to call for better Indigenous representation on the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT), the agency tasked with investigating police-related deaths and injuries.

The chiefs are demanding Indigenous representation on SiRT for incidents involving First Nations people, describing it as a vital step toward reconciliation and transparency. They also call for increased community engagement and regular updates from officials to rebuild trust.

SiRT is investigating the incident, which occurred after RCMP responded to a call about a man threatening self-harm, resulting in Dedam’s death after a failed Taser attempt and subsequent police gunfire. SiRT, which currently has no Indigenous members among its small team of investigators, acknowledges the need for diversity and is working to improve its outreach to marginalized communities. This case adds to a broader context of Indigenous deaths in police encounters, following the 2020 shootings of Chantel Moore and Rodney Levi, which led to calls for a public inquiry into systemic racism within the justice system.

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