Agora: Red Deer Polytechnic Undergraduate Journal
Volume 16:1 2025 Agora Conference Proceedings

Indigenous Practice Paper: Policeinvolved Indigenous Deaths in
Canada
Tessa Woods
Nearly three decades after a landmark commission
warned of systemic injustices against Indigenous communities,
recent police-involved killings and escalating racial disparities
make it painfully clear that Canada's promises of reconciliation
have yet to be fully realized. For decades, Indigenous peoples in
Canada have experienced systemic inequities rooted in a justice
system that has failed to address their unique cultural and
historical circumstances. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal
Peoples formally published in 1996 identified the urgent need
for meaningful reforms. Yet, contemporary reporting shows
rising police-involved deaths, revealing that the same systemic
injustices persist today. Within this landscape of ongoing harm,
the Canadian Association of Social Workers: Code of Ethics
(CASW, 2005) provides a moral compass calling for
accountability, respect, and transformative change. Despite
longstanding recognition of these problems, these patterns of
violence and marginalization continue unimpeded. This essay
will examine how these issues manifest on micro, meso, and
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macro levels of social work practice. Thus, this essay argues that
the persistent violence and inequity faced by Indigenous
communities demand immediate transformative reforms, stricter
accountability measures, and a renewed ethical commitment that
moves Canadian society from acknowledging past injustices to
actively dismantling them.
An article from the Yellowhead Institute “Two Weeks,
Six Dead: Police Violence, Indigenous Dehumanization &
Canadian Indifference” McGuire (2024), details how over a twoweek period (August 29 – September 9, 2024) there was a total
of six people killed by the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted
Police). All of whom were Indigenous. McGuire (2024) states
that police violence stretches all the way back to early Canada,
furthermore, she claims that Canada has been complicit in the
deaths of Indigenous people since first contact. The topic of
stereotypes, such as the "savage" are explored and how they
actively contribute to the justification of violence against
Indigenous people. Overall, McGuire's (2024) main message is
"There are significant racial disparities in Canada when it comes
to

police

violence,

with

Indigenous

peoples

vastly

overrepresented in those incidents". Regardless of that in 2024,
we speak of this as a time of reconciliation for Indigenous
people, "The state continues to apprehend, incarcerate, confine,
abuse, and kill Indigenous peoples" (McGuire, 2024) at a

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shocking and steadily increasing rate. For more than a century,
the rights of Indigenous people have been ignored and eroded.
To put into perspective how long Indigenous people have
faced the injustices of the criminal system, we can turn to the
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP, 1996). The
main goal of the RCAP was to investigate the relationship
between Indigenous peoples, the Canadian government, and
Canadian society. With the intent to propose solutions to
challenges affecting these relationships, as well as restore justice
to the relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous
people within society. The RCAP states that the justice system
of Canada has failed Aboriginal people and that it has been both
inaccessible and insensitive (RCAP 1996, p. 27). This report also
includes the results of a Saskatchewan study by "indicating that
a treaty Indian boy turning 16 in 1976 had a 70 per cent chance
of at least one stay in prison by the age of 25 (that age range
being the one with the highest risk of imprisonment). The
corresponding figure for non-status or Métis was 34 per cent.
For a non-Native Saskatchewan boy, the figure was 8 per cent"
(Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1996, p. 30).
Over the next 315 pages, the Commission of Inquiry
investigated the relationship among Aboriginal people, the
government of Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and
part of the culture of Canada as a whole. What is crucial to

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extract from this report is that even in 1996 when this was
published,

investigators

were

able

to

identify

that

“understanding the root causes is critical to understanding what
it will take by way of a national commitment to bring about real
change” (Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1996, p.
33). To return to contemporary issues regarding these same
circumstances, it is apparent in McGuire’s (2024) article that, as
predicted by the investigators, matters surrounding the justice
system have only intensified and worsened for Indigenous
people. “It is difficult — especially in moments like these — to
ignore claims that genocide in Canada is ongoing, despite our
supposed era of reconciliation” (McGuire, 2024).
The harmful inequities faced by Indigenous peoples in
Canada's justice system are portrayed in a Global News article
titled "Alberta First Nation Condemns Shooting Death of 15year-old, Calls for RCMP Resignations," written by Karen
Bartko (2024). The article highlights the outrage within
Indigenous communities over the RCMP's actions and
subsequent lack of justice. The communities described it as a
failure of law enforcement accountability, calling for
resignations within the police force of the officers involved with
the incident. The victim, a young boy named Hoss Lightning,
had called 911 in fear of his life, stating that he was being
followed by people who were trying to kill him (Bartko, 2024).

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Within one hour after the 911 call was made, RCMP in
Wetaskiwin stated they found an 'individual' and approached.
According to police, the individual was in possession of a
weapon, which was reportedly confiscated by the two officers
on scene. However, RCMP have not provided any further
comment or clarification on what the so-called weapon actually
was. Following the confiscation, a supposed confrontation
occurred, during which both officers discharged their firearms,
lightning was struck and later died upon arrival at the hospital
(Bartko, 2024). Lightning is one of the six Indigenous people
killed by police within a two-week span this year, as mentioned
in McGuire's (2024) article.
Another recent Indigenous victim of police brutality
mentioned by McGuire is Steven ‘Iggy’ Dedam. In the CBC
News article, "Family Challenges RCMP Statement After
Mi'kmaw Man Shot and Killed During Wellness Check," written
by Sis'moqon (September 12, 2024); the problematic and
disputable death of a thirty-four-year-old father was reported.
According to the article "the RCMP statement said officers from
the Elsipogtog detachment responded to a call around 11:19 p.m.
about a man in mental distress with a weapon at a residence in
the community. RCMP said the man refused to drop his weapon
and a member shot their gun at the man. RCMP said first aid was
immediately administered and the man was taken to the hospital

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where he later died" (Sis'moqon, 2024). Dedam's family disputes
the RCMP statement and claims it is falsified, stating that the
RCMP statement did not include that they were called to
Dedam's home for a wellness check. The family believes that
further details regarding the incident should be shared with the
public community and denies the claim that RCMP administered
first-aid immediately to Dedam after he had been shot. In
conclusion to the article the family claims that they were not able
to say goodbye to Dedam at the hospital prior to his death and
that he died surrounded by police rather than family and loved
ones (Sis’moqon, 2024).
The systemic injustices outlined by the RCAP (1996)
and echoed by current accounts of police violence against
Indigenous communities (Bartko, 2024; McGuire, 2024;
Sis'moqon, 2024) are further underscored by the data from
Tracking (In)justice (2023), which reveals a troubling rise in
police-involved deaths and persistent racial disparities in
Canada. The number of individuals who have died at the hands
of police has steadily increased over the last century, most
significantly within the last two years. In 2021 Indigenous
people accounted for 5.1% of the entire Canadian population.
However, they accounted for 16.2% of the overall number of
representations for police use of force-involved deaths. In 2000
there were reported to have been 19 victims nationwide, fast-

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forward to 2022 – 69 deaths – and this year (2024) we are at an
alarming 117 deaths by police. The source stated, "Within the
overall increase in deaths there are persistent and deeply
disturbing racial disparities. Black and Indigenous peoples are
over-represented in police use of force-involved deaths in
Canada" (Tracking (in)justice, 2023). Although there are
fluctuations on a year-to-year basis, the racial disparities have
remained consistent over the past two decades, bringing to light
that Indigenous people die at almost eight times the rate
compared to white people (Tracking (in)justice, 2023).
As future social workers, it is important to consider the
role the profession must play in advancing reconciliation in
response to the ongoing injustices inflicted upon Indigenous
people by the criminal and justice systems. To begin, we must
promote and engage in a renewed ethical commitment to
addressing and investigating the increase of missing and/or
murdered Indigenous people. Social workers are required to
guide their actions and choices using the Code of Ethics (CASW,
2005) to help them. Value 2: Pursuit of Social Justice – Social
workers are committed to promoting equal treatment and legal
protection to all individuals, particularly those who are
vulnerable or disadvantaged. This value highlights the
responsibility of social workers to challenge oppressive systems

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and address ethical issues with the best interest of clients,
families, communities, and the entire world at large.
On a micro-level, social workers must prioritize
enhancing their individual education on Indigenous culture and
community to better equip them to support the marginalized
communities and clients they work for. A macro-level response
should be that social workers promote and offer first aid mental
health services and support to people in crisis, subsequently
referring them to the appropriate services, rather than having
police respond with hostility and misconceptions. This could
include social workers collaborating and planning the
implementation of widespread Mobile Crisis Response Teams
(MCTs) to respond to mental health related 911 calls. On a
mezzo-level, social workers can work towards providing
targeted community support services and groups for both trauma
and grief, for the victim's families and loved ones to find support
through.
The urgent warnings issued almost three decades ago by
the

RCAP

(1996)

have

proven

tragically

prophetic.

Contemporary accounts from Bartko (2024), Sis'moqon (2024),
and McGuire (2024), alongside sobering data from Tracking
(in)justice (2023), confirm that Indigenous communities
continue to withstand the worst of systemic violence, neglect,
and injustice at the hands of those sworn to protect them. Even

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with ethical frameworks such as the CASW (2005) calling for
accountability and respect, meaningful reform has stalled. The
reality is stark: in the 28 years since the commission's dire
forecasts, conditions have significantly worsened, and without
immediate and transformative change, Canada risks watching
these disparities deepen further and continue to repeat
themselves.
If the nation fails to act now, how many more Indigenous
lives will be needlessly lost in the coming years. These are not
theoretical questions – they demand urgent attention, committed
advocacy, and genuine structural reforms that honour the rights
and dignity of Indigenous people. The choice to either confront
these systemic injustices and honour the dignity of Indigenous
people or allow these harms to intensify over the coming years
rests squarely in our hands, and the choice to break this cycle
lies in today's actions.
This disproportionate impact of criminal accusations and
police brutality on Indigenous peoples is considerably welldocumented yet remains largely unacknowledged by broader
society. Despite clear data pointing to a troubling rise in policeinvolved deaths – particularly in recent years- the depth of the
crisis is often minimized or overlooked. A closer examination
reveals that awareness alone is not enough; lasting change
requires direct intervention, systemic reform, and a collective

242

commitment to justice. In the field of social work, it is critical to
amplify these truths, maintain ongoing dialogue, and work
alongside Indigenous communities. The goal is to serve as an
active ally in reconciliation by fostering trust, supporting
intergenerational healing, and addressing both historical and
present-day injustices through sustained and purposeful action.

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References
Bartko, K. (2024, September 3). Alberta First Nation condemns
shooting death of 15-year-old, calls for RCMP
resignations. Global News.
globalnews.ca/news/10731439/wetaskiwin-rcmphosslightning-fatal-shooting-asirt/
Canadian Association of Social Workers. (2005). Code of
Ethics. www.caswacts.ca/files/documents/casw_code_of_ethics.pdf
McGuire, Michaela. (24 September 2024). Two weeks, six
dead: Police violence, Indigenous dehumanization &
Canadian indifference. Yellowhead Institute.
yellowheadinstitute.org/2024/09/24/two-weeks-six-deadpolice-violence-indigenous-dehumanization-canadianindifference/
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. (1996). Bridging
the cultural divide: A report on Aboriginal Peoples and
criminal justice in Canada.
data2.archives.ca/rcap/pdf/rcap-464.pdf
Sis’moqon. (2024, September 12). Family challenges RCMP
statement after Mi’kmaw man shot and killed during
wellness check. CBC News.
www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/rcmpshooting-elsipogtogfamily-statement-1.7321343
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Tracking (in)justice. (2023, February 10). Police-involved
deaths are on the rise, as are racial disparities in
Canada: A look at recent trends in police-involved
deaths in Canada. trackinginjustice.ca/analysisincrease-in-deaths-and-racial-disparities/

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