On Sunday, September 9th, the RCMP was called to Graham Road Elispogtog for a wellness check, after reports were made of a man carrying weapons with the intent to hurt himself. When the police arrived, Mr. Dedam was in mental distress. A taser was used on him, and soon after he was shot and pronounced dead. The RCMP report claims that Iggy Dedam received medical attention immediately after being shot. However, Amber Joeseph, Iggy Dedam’s sister reported that after being shot three times, Iggy was handcuffed, and only after being arrested did he receive the necessary medical treatment.  

The Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is investigating the shooting. The agency is independent of the government and the police, and it investigates cases of death, injury, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence, caused by the police in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Erin Nauss, the SIRT director, stated that charges will be pressed, if needed, after an official report is conducted.  

Is the death of Mr. Dedam a result of systemic racism? 

In response to the death of Iggy Dedam, Chief Ross Perely of the Tobique First Nation highlighted two more shootings of Indigenous peoples in 2020. In June 2020, Constable Jeremy Son was called to conduct a wellness check on Chantel Moore. Extremely distressed, Ms. Moore was carrying a knife and was shot. A week later, Rodney Levi was shot twice in the chest by Constable Scott Hait in June 2020 during a wellness check. Unsurprisingly, after both of the shootings, no charges were pressed against the police. Chief Perely links these three deaths to the systemic racism of police against Indigenous peoples. 

The New Brunswick chiefs have requested that Premier Blaine Higgs investigate the systemic racism present in New Brunswick. However, they have received no action from the premier. They have also asked for Indigenous representation on the SIRT team while they investigate Iggy’s death and for regular updates on the investigation to be made to Indigenous peoples. Indigenous communities are looking for answers that explain why they are continuously targeted and harmed by systems that are meant to protect citizens.

How did a wellness check turn into a shooting? 

The RCMP was called to ensure Iggy’s safety, as he was in a vulnerable position. However, because of the police officers on the scene, Iggy Dedam is now dead. This incident generates the question; why are police officers conducting wellness checks? When helping someone in mental distress, sending police officers does not help. Sending health professionals such as social workers and nurses with police officers to wellness checks produces better outcomes for the person in need. Furthermore, the implementation of an Indigenous response team would reduce the death of Indigenous peoples at the hands of law enforcement. In fact, the chiefs of New Brunswick have requested the implementation of an Indigenous peacekeeping force that responds to crises in their communities. However, neither the federal nor provincial government will organize the necessary funding to create these organizations to target discrimination against Indigenous peoples.  

Justice for Iggy Dedam 

Following the news of his death, on Monday, residents built a fire to honour Mr. Dedam outside of the Elsipogtog RCMP detachment. On Sunday, September 15, 100 people gathered with the Mi’Makw community in Elispogtog to walk for Iggy. The family and friends of Iggy Dedam, Chantel Moore, and Rodney Levi, and band council representatives walked from the Elsipogtog commercial center, passed the RCMP detachment, and to the Chief Young Eagle Recreation Centre. They chanted, drummed, and spoke out against the police and demanded justice for Mr. Dedam. #JusticeforIggy is also trending on social media to honour his memory and spread awareness of police discrimination against Indigenous peoples. 

Our condolences are with the Dedam family during this time as we await to hear the response of the SIRT investigation. The police failed at their job to ensure Iggy Dedam’s safety and we are hoping that they are finally held accountable for their actions.