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NATIVE WOMEN MISSING AND/OR MURDERED IN CANADA
NORTH WEST TERRITORIES AND NUNAVIT
MISSING
MISSING
Charlene Catholique
CHARLENE CATHOLIQUE
, aged 15. DOB June 23, 1975. Height 165 cm, Weight 57 kg. Charlene has black
hair and brown eyes.Missing since July 18, 1990 from Snowdrift, Northwest
Territories Canada.
Classification: Endangered Missing
Circumstances of Disappearance:
Charelene attended an assembly in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Canada on
July 20, 1990. The meeting ended two days later, on July 22, 1990. She
apparently traveled to Fort Rae, Northwest Territories at that time. She was
last seen hitchhiking at the intersection of Highway 3 and Rae Access Road.
She was wearing acid-washed jeans; a neon pink t-shirt; and a blue jacket with
white sleeves. Fort Resolution was stitched on the jacket. Charlene has never
been heard from again. Police suspect that foul play may be involved in her
disappearance.
UNSOLVED
Investigators:
If you have any information concerning Charlene's whereabouts, please contact
Royal Canadian Mounted Police at
403-920-8361 or 403-920-8357.
All information may be submitted on an anonymous basis.
Source Information: The Garden Of Missing Children Society
MISSING
Elizabeth Kamookak and Jeremy Jacob
ELIZABETH KAMOOKAK AND JEREMY JACOB
, aged 13 and 11 from Gjoa Haven, NWT.
Disappearance Information:
The children were abducted by their non-custodial father, Randall Graham BERGEN
on January 1, 1999. Elizabeth may also go by the name of Gizmo BERGEN, she has
pierced ears and is a Canadian Native Inuit. Jeremy may also go by the name of
Tooto BERGEN and is also a Canadian Native Inuit. The father is balding.
UNSOLVED
INFORMATION: CONTACT Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Phone: 1-877-318-3576
MISSING
HEATHER TUCKATUCK
, 23,of Kuujjuaraapik, NWT, disappeared on Dec. 24, 2001. She was last seen
near the airport in an intoxicated state.
Her family reported her disappearance to the Kativik Regional Police Force on
Dec. 28. Police and Rangers have been looking for the young woman in and around
the community and in Montreal, where she had been living until October, 2001.
"She might be under the snow, she might have fallen into the river or she might
have gone to Montreal,"
said KRPF Capt. Larry Hubert.
Police do not suspect foul play, and have reported Tuckatuck as a missing
person.
UNSOLVED
CASES IN NUNUVUT
MURDERED
Jennifer Naglingniq
JENNIFER NAGLINGNIQ, aged 13. On Friday, Dec. 6, 2002, 13-year-old Jennifer
Naglingniq, of Iqaluit, Nunavut, helped her teacher hang Christmas decorations.
A few hours later she was dead, raped and murdered in her home. Her mother, CBC
Iqaluit program clerk Nicotye Naglingniq, found her body when she returned home
shortly after midnight.
Wende Tulk, Jennifer's home room teacher at Inuksuk high school, says Jennifer
was a special student - bright, with high marks and a natural leader.
"People listened to her. You know when she graduated she would be doing great
things."
She was an enthusiastic soccer player and just bought new soccer shoes the day
before she was killed.
Tulk will be haunted by Jennifer's dyed-orange ponytail, her beautiful voice
and her positive attitude.
"She was always singing, always happy."
She said that Jennifer - and her final act of helpfulness - won't be soon
forgotten.
"We're going to leave those Christmas decorations up all year now."
Ivan Kilabuk Joamie, 24, was charged with Jennifer's murder but was released
from Baffin Correctional Centre a few days later, when the charge of first
degree murder was stayed.. The Crown decided the case against Joamie wasn't
strong enough to proceed at this time. The Crown has one year to reactivate the
case.
The RCMP say they are continuing the investigation. Police are not revealing
how Jennifer was murdered, saying that only them and the murderer know how she
died.
Please support the Jennifer Naglingniq Memorial Fund.
A memorial fund has been set up to create an annual award in Jennifer’s name
for a student at Inukshuk high school who contributes to making Iqaluit a
better place.
Donations can be made at the CBC Toronto Credit Union in the Jennifer
Naglingniq Memorial Fund account 9879 or through the Bank of Montreal in
Iqaluit, account 3635 8040 108.
UNSOLVED
MURDERED
Donna Kusugak
DONNA KUSUGAK, was strangeld to death in her Rankin Inlet home on March 9, 2003.
Allen Kabvitok of Whale Cove has been charged with her murder and awaits trial.
MURDERED
Inusiq Sarah Akavak
INUSIQ SARAH AKAVAK, aged 39, the mother of a five-year-old girl, was strangled to death in her apt. on Feb. 10, 2000. Her child found her body.
Five months earlier, on Sept. 5, 1999, Iqaluit RCMP charged Iqaluit resident Kootoo Korgak with assaulting Ms. Akavak
Court documents also show that between the laying of the assault charge in September and the laying of the murder charge last weekend, Korgak was accused of breaching a promise not to drink alcohol.
Despite the apparent evidence suggesting that he may have violated the conditions of his release, Korgak was allowed to remain free and was not taken into custody until after his common-law wife turned up dead.
Charged with her murder is 32 year old
Kootoo Korgak of Iqualit.
Inusiq, a well known native carver, charged Korgak with assualt just a few months before she was killed. .
Inusiq Sarah Akavak was honoured at a dinner and silent auction held at Iqaluit's Toonoonik Hotel in June 2000. The dinner and auction raised money for the Qimaavik women's shelter, which Akavak sometimes turned to for help.
Laughter, a feeling of goodwill, and tears marked the evening, as friends and family described a gracious woman who loved life and treated everyone she met equally.
"She worked hard to make a living, she loved life and people miss her laughter, kindness ,and outgoing personality," said Elisapee Ikkidluak, one of Akavak's surviving relatives, in an address to those assembled.
"People of all ages and races were the same to her. She treated all of them equally," Ikkidluak said. "Inusiq had friends, family, nieces, nephew and she loved everyone of us. Inusiq you would be proud to see this dinner in honour of your memory. You are here with us today and you will be remembered for many years to come."
She is survived by a five-year-old daughter, Mily, her mother Leah, brothers Mosesie, Simi, Billy, J.J. and Kamikee, and two sisters, Itee and Mary.
MURDERED
Oolayou Eyesiak
OOLAYOU EYESIAK, aged 51, and her son, Pootoogoo Eyesiak, 21, were murdered inside their Iqaluit home in November 1986. They were stabbed and disemboweled.
Oolayou's 19 year old daughter found the bodies.
Jopie Atsiqtaq, also known as Jopie Peter, was convicted of two counts of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prision with no chance of parole for 15 years.. He is serving his sentence in Alberta.
MURDERED
Mary Ann Birmingham
MARY ANN BIRMINGHAM, aged 16, of Iqaluit, was stabbed and killed in her home near the beach rowhouse area of Iqaluit in the spring of 1997.
Jopie Atsiqtaq, also known as Jopie Peter, was charged but after a preliminary inquiry, a territorial court judge concluded that there wasn't enough evidence to justify sending him to trial.
UNSOLVED
MURDERED
Betsy Kalaserk-Kirby
BETSY KALASERK-KIRBY,originally from Rankin Inlet, was found dead in her downtown Yellowknife, ground floor apartment. Her husband, Ian Adam Kirby was arrested by police and originally charged with second degree murder on Sept. 30, 2003, after Betsy's body was found.
During his preliminary hearing, the Crown withdrew the charge of second degree murder and replaced it with a charge of criminal negligence causing death. Territorial court Judge Brian Bruser also found there was enough evidence to commit Ian Adam Kirby, 59, to trial on manslaugher and failing to provide the necessities of life.
During Kirby's preliminary hearing , Crown attorney Loretta Colton withdrew the charge of second degree murder and replaced it with a charge of criminal negligence causing death.
Following the hearing , Territorial Court Judge Brian Bruser also found there was enough evidence to commit Kirby to trial on manslaughter and failing to provide the necessities of life. The latter section of the criminal code requires a man to provide things like shelter, food and medical care to his wife and children.
While Bruser committed Kirby to trial on the three counts, it's still up to the Crown's office whether or not they will pursue the charges.
"We'll review the evidence and make that decision in the coming weeks," said Colton, who had only asked for a committal on the charge of criminal negligence causing death.
Several members of Kalaserk-Kirby's family flew in from Rankin Inlet for the preliminary hearing, including her eight-year-old son and 17-year-old niece.
The courtroom was closed to the public when Kalaserk-Kirby's son took the stand. Ultimately the youngster was unable to testify. A transcript of his video-taped statement to police was entered into evidence instead.
Kirby has been in police custody since he violated his bail conditions on November 29, 2003. The trial continues.
MURDERED
Leanne Irkotee
LEANNE IRKOTEE, aged 22, of Rankin Inlet was murdered on April 23,2004.
“She was a really sweet person and not a threat to anyone, always kind and always decent and always trying her best. It’s a very sad thing, just a waste, a waste, a waste,” said one Rankin Inlet resident, who did not wish to be identified.
Police found a badly-injured Irkotee inside a Rankin Inlet residence around 7:30 a.m. on April 23, after getting a call from someone who said Irkotee needed medical attention.
They arrived with an ambulance and took the young woman to the Rankin Inlet health centre, where she was pronounced dead at about 10:15 am.
Later that day, her body was sent to Edmonton for an autopsy, but police have not released the exact cause of her death.
RCMP members from the major crimes unit in Iqaluit, and from forensic identification sections in Iqaluit and Edmonton are still at working on the case in Rankin Inlet.
Adrien VanEindhoven, 30, of Rankin Inlet, was arrested and charged with second degree murder .VanEindhoven’s first court appearance was scheduled for May 4, in Iqaluit. Updates will be added as available.
MURDERED
Rhoda Maksagak
RHODA MAKSAGAK,
aged 49, of Cambridge Bay NWT, was found murdered in her home by friends at around 12 noon on March 12, 2004.
After sending her body out for an autopsy, police now say they are treating the death as a "homicide."
The RCMP are releasing few details in the case, including the cause of death, and even the victim's identity, to comply with the Privacy Act. Nunatsiaq News confirmed the deceased person's name through other sources.
Const. Chris Coles, the RCMP's media relations officer in Nunavut, said RCMP members from Iqaluit have been sent to Cambridge Bay to help in the investigation.
UNSOLVED
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