The Native Women’s Association of Canada Calls for Police Response After Indigenous Woman’s Death

The lack of police response following the death of a young Indigenous woman in Thunder Bay, Ontario, has been criticized by the Native Women’s Association of Canada. The victim, identified as 21-year-old Jenna Ostberg, allegedly did not receive help from the police after a 911 call was made.

The president of the association, Carol McBride, expressed concerns about the way police services handle cases involving Indigenous women. McBride stated, “We’re over-policed and under-protected, and that is so true. This is something not new to us. We hear horror stories all the time on the way police services conduct themselves regarding Indigenous women, and something definitely has to change.”

According to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the Thunder Bay police received a 911 call about a domestic disturbance at a residence on Ray Boulevard around 2 a.m. on December 30, 2023. However, officers received a second 911 call to cancel the first call, leading investigators to not respond. Subsequently, a third 911 call reported that the woman was found dead inside the residence, prompting the police to finally respond and discover the body.

Ostberg’s parents, Vincent Ostberg and Melanie Beardy, spoke with Global News and revealed that the police informed them that their daughter died “with plastic around her neck,” suggesting suicide. However, the family is awaiting the results of an autopsy before drawing any conclusions.

In a statement released by the Windigo First Nations Council on behalf of the family, they expressed their fear that their daughter “is the latest victim of inadequate and unjust policing services received by First Nation women in particular, in Thunder Bay.”

Several investigations conducted in recent years have concluded that systemic racism exists within the Thunder Bay Police Service towards Indigenous people. Instances of inadequately investigated sudden-death cases due to racist attitudes and stereotyping have been cited. Despite reaching out to the Thunder Bay Police Service for comment, Global News has not received a response.

Carol McBride emphasizes the need for changes and pressures the policing organizations and governments, both provincial and federal, to take action. She states, “Too many lives have been taken. Too many harms have been done. We need to put pressure, whether it’s the policing organizations or the governments, provincial or federal, we need to put pressure on them to make these changes. We need to do away with the training and the colonization that’s going on towards our people.”

McBride also highlights the importance of education for police officers in Canada to improve their response to calls involving Indigenous people. She believes that getting these officers trained and ensuring they take these calls seriously is crucial in providing the protection Indigenous communities need.

An analysis of cases handled by the Special Investigations Unit reveals that Indigenous individuals are nearly 6.25 times more frequently represented in incidents resulting in death or serious injury involving officials compared to the average Ontarian.

In response to the Native Women’s Association’s concerns, Thunder Bay’s Mayor, Ken Boshcoff, stated that as the death is still under investigation by the SIU, the city cannot provide further comment. He offered condolences to the loved ones affected by the tragic death.

With ongoing investigations and discussions surrounding this case, the Native Women’s Association of Canada continues to advocate for changes to the police system and the treatment of Indigenous women.

— with files from Global News’ Melissa Ridgen, Sean Boynton and The Canadian Press

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