Bonnie Atagootak, 34, was a mother of three

By Jim Bell

(Updated Feb. 3, 7 a.m.)

Ottawa police continue to investigate what they describe as the suspicious death of Bonnie Atagootak, 34, an Inuk woman originally from Pond Inlet, whose body was found near Carling Ave. and Kirkwood Ave. on the morning of Thursday, Jan. 30.

Atagootak’s sister, Susie Pewatoaluk, confirmed her identity for Nunatsiaq News this weekend.

Pewatoaluk said her sister, a mother of three children who has lived in Ottawa for the past five years, was looking forward to celebrating her 35th birthday on Feb. 16.

She’s my only sister,” Pewatoaluk said, saying she has launched a fundraiser to help to bring her sister back to Pond Inlet. (See story later today.)

Meanwhile, Ottawa police have yet to determine the cause of the woman’s death.

“We are working to establish the circumstances that led to her death including any evidence of criminality,” Supt. Chris Renwick of the Ottawa Police Service said in a statement emailed to Nunatsiaq News.

After Atagootak had been reported missing, on the evening of Jan. 29, the police began an investigation, Renwick said.

The next morning they found her body behind the Embassy West building on Carling Avenue, but say that she has no connection to the seniors’ residence.

“This is a tragic death and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased. We will continue to provide them with available supports,” Renwick said.

Tungasuvvingat Inuit said Atagootak was a “valued member of the urban Inuit community.”

“We are deeply saddened by this loss and our first thoughts are with the family during this very difficult time. At this time we ask for prayers and healing for the family,” the organization said in an emailed statement.

TI also said they have made counsellors available to any member of the Ottawa Inuit community or their staff who need someone to talk to.

In a statement, the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition pointed out that the woman’s tragic death occurred only one day after a mural by two Indigenous artists at Algonquin College was defaced by a vandal, and that there is great sadness in the Indigenous community in Ottawa this week.

“Given the sensitivity around missing and murdered Indigenous women, it’s just screaming out loud, in capital letters, that we’ve got to do a better job,” the OAC’s co-chair, Marc Maracle, told Nunatsiaq News.