We are creating this petition to address the systemic injustices Indigenous people face in Canada.

Iggy Dedham was shot and killed by RCMP in his community of Elsipogtog during a “Wellness check”. His death has impacted the entire nation and is one of many examples highlighting how the RCMP, provincial police services, municipal police services, and the government override Indigenous systems and supports. Indigenous people make up 5% in so called Canada of the total population. Six Indigenous people were killed by RCMP and police within 11 days (August 29-September 8th, 2024) That would be equivalent to 114 non-indigenous people in Canada being shot by RCMP & police within 11 days. 

Elsipoqtog has created a valuable program led by the community called Indige-watch. Indige-watch is a crisis line service that police departments are recommended to call before attending to anyone in crisis.

Tragically, Iggy was not met by his community crisis team.

This petition calls for the creation of a bill requiring the RCMP, provincial police services, municipal police services, and government to call Indigenous crisis teams or other crisis response teams before attending to anyone who is in a crisis. Additionally, we demand that the Elsipoqtog service system be implemented in every Mi’kmaq community.