Utoo Radio with Other News Sources - June 27, 2024 - A First Nations man, Bruce Wallace Frogg, was shot and killed by an Ontario Provincial Police officer in Kenora.

He was an avid outdoorsman from the Oji-Cree First Nation and a member of Wawakapewin, a remote fly-in community. The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating the circumstances surrounding Frogg's death.

The incident occurred at Anicinabe Park in Kenora, where he was shot after setting fire to a building. Bruce was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Frogg's family and First Nation members are expressing their condolences for his family and the need for better mental health supports for First Nations people and de-escalation training for police.

The SIU investigation is aiming to provide answers for the family. Nearly a quarter of Kenora's population is Indigenous, according to the 2021 census. Staff shortages among social service agencies are creating longer wait times and reducing access to care.

Elauna Boutwell, involved with Kenora Moving Forward, a grassroots coalition that helps the city's most vulnerable people, has heard concerns following Bruce's death and said it can be challenging for people to know where to go for help. There is also the issue of stigma, as graphic and racially charged comments on social media in response to the incident may deter others from seeking help.

The SIU urges anyone with information about the investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online.