Joanasie Akumalik, Iqaluit dad who lost son to suicide, supports inquest

Iqaluit resident Joanasie Akumalik hopes sharing his family's story at this month's inquest into high suicide rates in Nunavut will help prevent other Nunavummiut from sharing the same pain. 

"It's part of a healing process [to talk about it]," says Akumalik. "It hurts. It really hurts to lose someone through suicide, especially being a father who loses a son."

Since Nunavut was created in 1999, 486 people have died by suicide. But it wasn't until a record-breaking 45 people took their lives in 2013 that Nunavut's coroner was driven to call for an inquest.

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For the next two weeks, various government departments, suicide prevention groups, Inuit organizations and experts will talk about the issue and what Nunavut can do about it. 

"We need a change," says Garth Eggenberger, who came from the Northwest Territories to preside over the inquest. "This whole process is really getting the dialogue started."

Falling 'through the cracks'

While Akumalik says creating an open atmosphere for people to discuss suicide is important, he hopes the inquest will be more than talk. 

Akumalik says his son, Aapi, was a "typical Inuk young man," who liked hunting, going out and watching hockey. 

He says the 24-year-old loved children and wanted to one day start a family.

"I think he's gone, fallen through the cracks of the government bureaucracy," says Akumalik. "He lost education advancement. When he lost that education advancement, I think that also stopped him from being employed."

It's the systemic problems, such as high unemployment, overcrowded housing and parenting that Akumalik hopes this inquest will address.

'The healing process'

The office of the chief coroner says it recognizes that participating in the inquest — or even simply hearing about it — will be emotionally challenging for many people in Nunavut. 

Mental-health workers will be available to give private counselling at the courthouse. 

"After the inquest, also, there will be mental health counselling services available in the communities," says Padma Suramala, Nunavut's chief coroner. 

Anyone who comes to the Nunavut Court of Justice to attend the hearing will also be able to pick up a pamphlet to help understand the healing process, says Suramala. 

While the two-week inquest has been carefully scheduled with time for more than a dozen individuals and organizations, the coroner's office says it is still open to hearing from other residents. 

Anyone who feels they have something to add to the discussion can contact Suramala directly at 867-975-7292 or by email. 

"If what they say is really relevant and is going to help the public, then we'd like them to bring it forward at the inquest," says Eggenberger.

The inquest is set to wrap up Sept. 25, when the six-member jury is scheduled to make its recommendations.