After Deadly Week – Royal Canadian Mounted Police Draw Criticism Days after the unrelated murder of a young woman, a teenager was killed by police

The community of Norway House Cree Nation is in mourning after the deaths of two young people in the Manitoba community in Canada.

The Norway House Cree community is mourning the death of Raven Crate, 23, shown here in an undated photo, along with the death of Elgyn Muskego,17-year-old male who died on November 22, after being arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A police watchdog unit is investigating the death of the young man, while a 35-year-old man known to Crate has been charged in her death.

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.

Muskego was shot by RCMP in the early hours of Friday on Norway House Cree Nation, about 460 kilometers 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. According to the Independent Investigation Unit, or IIU, "Officers arrived and located the youth outside, armed with an edged weapon.

"Officers made numerous commands to the male to drop the weapon, but he did not comply and moved towards the officers, resulting in the discharge of a service firearm," the IIU said.

"A team of IIU investigators was immediately deployed. As this matter involves a fatality, the IIU will request the Manitoba Police Commission appoint a civilian monitor," the IIU said.

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."

The police watchdog is encouraging witnesses to come forward.

Rowden said the RCMP needs to send better-trained officers to Norway House.

Raven Crate

The community is also in shock over the death of 23-year old Raven Crate.

A week early, according to RCMP, officers were called to a house in the community on Nov. 12. The police said Crate was deceased when they found her.

"On November 14, 2024, Manitoba Major Crime Services arrested and charged 35-year-old Derek Bruce Forbister of Norway House in relation to the death of a 23-year-old female," an RCMP statement from Nov. 14 said.

"Forbister, who was known to the victim, was charged with manslaughter and remanded into custody."

According to community members Crate was pregnant. A funeral is being held on Saturday.

Hold RCMP accountable

Norway House leadership issued a statement late Friday on both incidents.

"This event has deeply affected our community, especially with the recent loss of a young woman. These incidents have brought immense grief to our Nation," the statement said.

"As leaders of our Nation, we assure you that these matters are receiving our highest priority. We are committed and determined to ensure that a thorough and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting by an RCMP officer takes place.

"To this end, we have established a dedicated team that will oversee this urgent issue and implement measures to address the broader issues of drugs and violence within our community. This team will consist of our Director of Policing, Health Director, legal counsel, and other key members.

"In light of these events, Chief and Council are considering all options, including the possibility of declaring a state of emergency. We have reached out to Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) to discuss the provision of immediate additional resources and support for our Nation.

The MKO Mobile Crisis Unit has been deployed to our Nation."