The circumstances pertaining to the death of Elias Whitehead, a 37-year-old Indigenous man, have raised significant questions among his family members and leaders of First Nations. Elias died on October 15 when he fell into medical distress after being apprehended by Winnipeg police.
Circulating witness footage seems to reveal that the police used force during the confrontation with a man who, according to the family, was indeed Mr. Whitehead. His partner, Jody Beardy, deemed the video horrifying and expressed her belief that the police had failed him. Beardy expressed unreservedly, “Why didn’t they keep him safe? Regardless of the situation, they failed him.”
She elaborated on the fact that Whitehead had been in Winnipeg to finalize a heavy machinery training course when the fatal incident occurred. In the disturbing video footage, police seem to wrestle someone to the ground, with an officer kneeing the individual twice.
According to police reports, the officers had reacted to a person behaving erratically, dashing into traffic at Sherbrook and Broadway. Following this, the apprehended individual began experiencing medical distress and subsequenty expired in hospital.
Garrison Settee, the Grand Chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), firmly stated, “We are here to discuss the circumstances surrounding the tragic and unnecessary death of Elias Whitehead.”
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) officials alleged that Whitehead did not have any criminal or substance abuse history. They consider this incident an unsettling display of the unnecessary use of force by the police demonstrating violence against First Nations people.
Chief Taralee Beardy of the Tataskweyak Cree Nation stated, “Elias Whitehead was experiencing a health issue when he lost his life at the hands of Winnipeg police.”
Police Chief Danny Smyth asserted in a digital post that the officers were called to handle a man who jumped in front of a female’s vehicle and smashed a window, and that the man exerted considerable resistance.
On discussing the police force’s actions with the CTV News Winnipeg, he remarked, “I do know that they needed to use force to control the situation.”
However, the eventual cause of Mr. Whitehead’s death remains unclear. “We will cooperate fully with the investigation, providing full accounts of the officers’ actions, including the use of force,” Smyth assured.
Simultaneously, Whitehead’s family and the AMC leadership are encouraging more witnesses to step forward and requesting a meeting with Chief Smyth and Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham to discuss the broader pattern of violence they perceive against First Nations people.
In response, Smyth and the mayor have conveyed their willingness to engage in open dialogues with the leaders, affirming their frequent interaction with them.
