IQALUIT
The focus was on two families on the first day of the chief coroner's inquest into suicide in the territory Sept. 14.

Both families agreed to participate and have their cases stand as examples over the two-week inquest, launched as a result of the high numbers of suicides in Nunavut in 2013.

Family members were ushered to the witness box in the centre of a courtroom in Iqaluit's Nunavut Court of Justice one by one to take the stand, with lawyers lined up on either side.

The location for this highly sensitive and emotional process was described by observers variously as an "intimidating" setting, and "inappropriate place for this" and "not the right way to do this."

Family members took the stand after six jurors were chosen from a pool of 27 people.

Antonio "Rex" Uttak, 11, described as a happy boy by his mother, aunt and grandmother, took his own life in August 2013. The RCMP officer stationed in Naujaat at the time also testified that Rex was a happy boy who never showed signs of being at risk and was never in trouble with the police.

The boy's grandmother, Bernadette Uttak, wondered why the inquest was taking place so long after her grandson's death.

"You are at peace, then you have to take a step backward. It's difficult. It's like it was yesterday. It made me sad to go through this all over again," she said through a translator.

"We have no clue what happened to him," said Bernadette, adding "I don't think anyone can stop suicide."

Asked if the grief of losing a child to suicide is similar to the grief of losing a mother or other relative, Bernadette said, "No. It's very different. We all know we're going to die, old or from sickness. It's very different with suicide. It cut his life."

Explaining her grief, Bernadette said, "I'm lifeless. A lot of time there is no help from even my own children and I told my older son at one point not to worry if I just fall over and die one day."

Throughout the Uttak family's testimony, the inquest would hear of many losses suffered.

On the impact of her grandson's death, Bernadette said: "You think, 'What did I do wrong? What did I do wrong as a parent or grandparent?'"

Mother Martha Uttak testified that Rex "was a very special child."

The family lived with Bernadette along with 18 and sometimes up to 24 people together in a four-bedroom house. Martha was waiting for the Nunavut Housing Corporation to assign her a new place since moving to Naujaat from Iglulik two years prior when she left her common-law spouse.

Martha suggested that's all she could think of that might be troubling Rex, "he was

missing his dad."

However, Martha also testified that her older son died by suicide when Rex was younger, and his sister was murdered.

"I think a lot of times he was thinking of his sister," said Martha.

The coroner's lawyer repeatedly asked the three women if they had been offered counselling or if they had accessed counselling. All three repeated that they spoke with each other, and were not interested in counselling.

Asked if Rex had counselling, Martha replied through the translator, "No. We hang out with each other and he tells me his feelings."

"We trust our brothers and sisters," said Rex's aunt and Martha's sister, Mary-Ann Ignerdjuk. "We don't know the counsellors. We don't need to tell them our lives. We don't need them to know our lives."

Throughout the first week of the inquest, a lack of Inuit counsellors or Inuktitut-speaking counsellors was raised again and again by witnesses, lawyers, as well as representatives of organizations with standing to question witnesses.

Rex was sleeping over at Mary-Ann's house when the tragedy occurred. She recounted how Rex and her seven-year old daughter were both asleep in the living room.

"I touched both of them on the face and said, 'Good night,'" said Mary-Ann, who woke up the next morning to her husband shouting for help after finding Rex.

Natan Obed, representing Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. at the inquest, asked Mary-Ann if she thought it was "normal for kids that age to know about suicide, or know how to."

"In your life, was it like this or has it changed," Obed asked.

"It's changed," replied Mary Ann. "Kids know more about suicide."

Joanasie Akumalik of Iqaluit, who lost his 24-year-old son to suicide, also testified.

The topic of Inuit-specific cultural training for RCMP officers and mental health workers was also raised.

The six-person jury, with a mix of Inuit and non-Inuit members, was actively engaged in the process throughout the week, listening attentively and asking questions of the witnesses.

At the end of the two-week inquest, after further testimony from experts, government officials and suicide prevention groups, the jury is expected to deliberate and submit recommendations to presiding coroner, Garth Eggenberger, intended to stem the tide of suicide deaths in the territory.

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