First Nations man killed in Kenora OPP shooting remembered as avid outdoorsman, generous as SIU investigates

Police say Bruce Wallace Frogg was holding knives when they shot him

Image | Bruce Frogg

Caption: Bruce Frogg's family says he was the man shot by provincial police in Kenora, Ont., this week during an incident at Anicinabe Park. He's being remembered as a provider who loved to be out on the land. (Submitted by Joshua Frogg)

A man shot and killed by an Ontario Provincial Police officer in Kenora earlier this week is being described by his family and First Nation as an avid outdoorsman who shared his harvest.
Bruce Wallace Frogg was a member of Wawakapewin, an Oji-Cree First Nation and remote fly-in community about 350 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout.
Ontario's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Frogg, who was in his 50s. The SIU is an independent government agency tasked with investigating police conduct that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm at a person.
Kenora OPP located a man with knives at Anicinabe Park in Kenora around 12:40 p.m. Tuesday. An officer shot him after the man set fire to a building, the SIU said in a statement issued Wednesday.(external link)
The man, identified by his community as Bruce, was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"Three investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case. The post-mortem is scheduled for Saturday. One subject official and seven witness officials have been designated at this time," the release said.
WATCH | Fire breaks out at Anicinabe Park in Kenora:

Media Video | RAW: Fire at Anicinabe Park office in Kenora, Ont.

Caption: Fire crews in Kenora, Ont., are working to put out what officials are calling a "significant fire" at the store at Anicinabe Park. Rachel Hall was there and sent CBC News this video.

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Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but the building was a total loss.
"Bruce can be remembered by his teachings and stories about the land," says a statement issued Wednesday from Wawakapewin First Nation. He was related to Wawakapewin's Chief AnneMarie Beardy, and leaves behind siblings, children and many relatives.
Days before Frogg's death, Anicinabe Park looked much different; people gathered there to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day and the 50th anniversary of the park's occupation by young First Nations people protesting for better living conditions, education and access to land.

'I was very, extremely proud of him'

Joshua Frogg, Bruce's older brother, said he and his siblings played hockey together growing up, and spent a lot of time on the land. He described Bruce as an expert hunter and outdoorsman who always shared his bounty with others.
Bruce overcame much adversity, being a survivor of convicted ex-priest and scoutmaster Ralph Rowe, and dealing with addiction, Joshua said. Bruce's family members, including his father and other siblings, attended residential school.
We love him, we will miss him, and he was a caring, generous person who provided for the community, for the elders. - Joshua Frogg, Bruce's brother
Bruce had been sober for over a year and was living at a halfway house in Kenora, said Joshua, who visited him as much as he could.
"I was very, extremely proud of him. He's come a long way," said Joshua, the band administrator for Wapekeka First Nation.
"We love him, we will miss him, and he was a caring, generous person who provided for the community, for the elders."

Tragedy could have been prevented

Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa said the stark contrast between the ceremony at Anicinabe Park on Friday and what happened there this week is hard to bear.
"Days later, in the same spot, you kill one of us. It doesn't feel good," Mamakwa said.

Image | Anicinabe Park fire

Caption: A firefighter is seen with the remnants of the Anicinabe Park Office on Tuesday in Kenora. (Submitted by Bronson Carver/Kenora Miner and News)

Mamakwa extended his condolences to Bruce's friends and family. His death is another reminder of the need for better mental health supports for First Nations people and de-escalation training for police, he said.
"When we talk about First Nations people not being treated with the same care by the police … I'm always [of] the belief that this tragedy that happened was preventable."
He said he hopes the SIU investigation provides answers for the family.

Media Audio | Superior Morning : Ed Mandamin: 50th anniversary of the Anicinabe Park Occupation in Kenora

Caption: Kenora is marking the 50th anniversary of the Anicinabe Park Occupation this National Indigenous Peoples Day.Hear about the gathering taking place tomorrow and why it’s so significant.

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Strain on resources

Nearly a quarter of Kenora's population is Indigenous, according to the 2021 census.
Patti Fairfield, executive director of the Ne-Chee Friendship Centre in Kenora, said there are mental health services in the city, but staff shortages are putting a strain on resources.

Image | Patti Fairfield

Caption: Patti Fairfield of the Ne-Chee Friendship Centre in Kenora says staffing shortages among social service agencies are creating longer wait times, reducing access to care. (Logan Turner/CBC)

"If you're dealing with somebody in a crisis situation … it's not like five to 10 minutes; sometimes it can take a long time, which just puts a backlog on other individuals who are needing to see these types of workers," Fairfield said.
"It's like a domino effect of how the resources are here, but there's not enough manpower to cover what is needed here."
The city is a central hub for justice and health-care services, but when wait times are long, people may fall through the cracks, she said.
"Even though we're trying to do the best that we can to support people, at the end of the day, there's still people out there that aren't getting what they need," Fairfield said.

Creating supportive spaces

Elauna Boutwell is involved with Kenora Moving Forward, a grassroots coalition that helps the city's most vulnerable people. She has heard a lot of concerns following Bruce's death and said it can be challenging for people to know where to go for help.
There's also the issue of stigma; CBC News observed a number of graphic and racially charged comments on social media in response to the incident at Anicinabe Park, and Boutwell said that may deter others from seeking help.
Mamakwa also called those comments "disturbing and very disappointing."

Image | Elauna Boutwell

Caption: Elauna Boutwell of Kenora Moving Forward says it's important for people to treat others with compassion and empathy, no matter where they come from. (Logan Turner/CBC)

"It creates this really unsafe environment to be open about and their mental health challenges or their addiction challenges," Boutwell said.
She wants to see more wraparound support in the community that empowers people with a stronger sense of self-worth.
"Part of that's creating safe spaces, trusting relationships, rapport with counsellors or whoever, so that it's not just in those crisis moments when we're interacting with individuals, but we can be creating this whole environment around someone so that it is safe for them to reach out," Boutwell said.
The SIU urges anyone who may have information about the investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online.(external link)

If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to get help:

Kenora & Northwestern Ontario Resources:
Canada-Wide Resources:
This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health(external link) outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.