RCMP's fatal shooting of 17-year-old boy 'ripping a hole' in Norway House Cree Nation

The grandparents of a teen who was killed by RCMP in a northern Manitoba First Nation say they can't fathom why police would see the need to use lethal force on the boy they helped raise since he was a toddler.

Elgyn Muskego was shot by RCMP in the early hours of Friday on Norway House Cree Nation, about 460 kilometres north of Winnipeg. He was 17.

Police say the teen was holding an edged weapon, and that he didn't drop it despite numerous demands for him to do so. The RCMP says that when he moved closer to the officers, one of them shot him.

Charles Ettawacappo, Elgyn's grandfather, said there were many other means police could have used to subdue him that wouldn't have led to his grandson's death.

"There [was] two of them, and there's one little boy," he said. "Use a stun gun, other means. He was just a little boy. He was 17 years old."

Elgyn had been living with Ettawacappo and his wife, Kathy, on and off since he was around three years old, Charles said. The couple said their grandson was a loving boy who cared deeply about his siblings and loved ice fishing, Skidooing, and being outdoors.

Kathy said that during the pandemic, the teen struggled with the isolation which led to mental health struggles and substance use. But his grandparents said he was getting his life back on track.

He was set to receive his high school diploma in June, they said.

"My wife's taking it really hard, and I'm taking it really hard," Charles said. "We didn't think we were going to lose him so young."

'He would be here right now'

The couple last saw Elgyn before they left Norway House to visit Charles' sister, Shirley, in Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre Thursday.

Kathy Ettawacappo said one of Elgyn's aunts messaged her about the shooting minutes after Shirley passed away.

"She's telling me Elgyn's been shot by the RCMP. He's in the ambulance. They're doing CPR on him," Kathy said.

"We left from the hospital ... My sister told me over the phone that he was gone, that my grandson passed away.

"I was devastated. This is my son that I raised like my own.… It's been so difficult without him, without seeing him here. He would be here right now if he was alive, in my home."

Norway House RCMP said in a release issued Friday afternoon the officers were responding to a call from a resident of the community at around 1:45 a.m., about a teen who was agitated and armed.

Police said they found the youth outside of the residence. The release said officers provided medical aid until EMS arrived. The teen was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The Independent Investigation Unit has taken over the investigation.

'Ripping a hole in our community'

On Saturday, some Norway House members told CBC News their community is angry and frustrated, and that many believe the RCMP overstepped.

"We're not only becoming scared of the bad in our community, but we're scared of the people who are supposed to protect us from the bad in our community," said Bryan Rowden. 

"This is really ripping a hole in our community, and ripping a hole through the hearts of everyone."

Rowden said Elgyn was his little cousin or nephew. He got to know him over the past four or five years as a barber, when the boy periodically swung by to get his hair cut. 

"He was a really great kid. From the time I spent talking to him, he seemed really intelligent. He was articulate. He was motivated but he went through a lot of mental stuff," he said.

"He was going through a rough time in his life when he just needed support and help. Instead of getting support and help he got shot and killed."

Rowden said Elgyn was small in stature and doesn't understand why he would have posed a threat.

Jonathan Meikle, who knew Elgyn through a mature student program, said his death is impacting everyone. He believes a community-based response focused on de-escalation methods would have helped prevent his death.

"A lot of anger. A lot of sadness," Meikle said. "We got to pull the lens back.… Many First Nations find themselves in a constant state of crisis due to colonialism."

This spring, the community held a march in protest after officers used a Taser on a teenage boy who is non-verbal and disabled.

Police said the boy had a knife and was threatening to stab a girl. Members of the community said then, too, it was not the right response for the situation.

Earlier this month, police announced a 35-year-old had been charged with manslaughter after a 23-year-old woman was found dead in a Norway House home.

Rowden said he finds himself pondering what can be done for a community that is hurting once again.

'They're here to instill fear'

In a statement issued Friday, Norway House Cree Nation announced it's going to launch its own investigation into Elgyn's death, and that it's also weighing the possibility of declaring a state of emergency.

"We want to assure the community that we are committed to holding the RCMP publicly accountable for their actions," the statement said.

"We will take all necessary steps to ensure justice occurs and to support the families affected by these tragedies." 

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak's mobile crisis unit has been deployed to the community, the statement said.

On Wednesday, Manitoba RCMP announced officers will start wearing body cameras as part of a national program rolling out over the coming months. 

Forty-four detachments across the province will receive body cameras over the next five months, including several detachments serving First Nations communities. Steinbach RCMP were the first ones in the province to begin using them Friday.

Rowden said he would like to see the local RCMP wear body cameras. But while he'd like to see the relationship between police and community members improve, he said he isn't sure it can.

"They come in, they leave. They don't get involved in the community.… You don't see them teaching kids how to ride bikes and doing stuff like that like you see in other communities… they're not here to bestow their love and support," he said. 

"They're here to instill fear. They're here to make us scared of them so that we don't hurt them. That's what it feels like."

Charles Ettawacappo said there are still many unanswered questions about what actually unfolded the night Elgyn died. He said he would be willing to forgive the RCMP officer who shot his grandson, because it would haunt him forever if he didn't.

"There's always forgiveness and that's what we're going to live by," Charles said.

"But we will never forget our grandson, our son. We will never forget him, and we're going to miss him, and my grandkids are just the same."