Montreal police looking at new information in death of Siasi Tullaugak

Montreal police say they are looking at new information in connection with the death of an Inuk woman, which Urgences-Santinitially told CBC News had been treated as a suicide.

The body ofSiasi Tullaugak, 27, was found on the balcony of her downtown apartment on Aug. 28.

Her sister told CBC News that Tullaugakhadn't appeared to be suicidal before her death. She said earlier on the day shedied, Tullaugaktold hershe felt someone was putting her life in danger, but she was too afraid to say who it was.

Police spokesperson SandrineLapointe said she cannot confirm the nature of the information that has come to lightbut that the investigation continues.

• Questions raised in wake of 2 Inuit women's deaths in Montreal days apart

David Chapman, the director of the Open Door homeless shelter, knew Tullaugak. Hesaid workers at the shelter arehappy to hear that police are conducting what he called a "more thorough investigation" into her death.

"It's important that when an Indigenous person dies, that their death is taken just as seriously as anyone else's," said Chapman.

The decision is also being praised by Nakuset, the executive director of the Native Women's Shelter of Montreal, who organized a recentvigil to commemorate the lives of Tullaugak and SharonBarron, another Inuk woman who died in Dorval in late August.

Nakuset said Tullaugak'sdeath has made waves in the community.

"I think they need to look into new information because since we heard of her death, everybodythe Inuit community, the homeless community, people in the CabotSquare area they've been bringing information forward."

Questions raised after death

Tullaugakhad come to Montreal fromNunavik, the Inuit territory of northern Quebec. Chapman said she had been in the midst of"trying to break free of street life."

"These women are not just statistics, you know," Chapman said."Siasiwas a mother.There are women who came here for a better life."

In an interview last week, Chapman said that a friend of Tullaugak's had told police hehad seen her in the company of a man a little more than an hour before her death. The friend then heard a scream.

The friend could provide exact times for the events he witnessed, including hearing police sirens approach Tullaugak's building, according to Chapman.

Chapman said at thattime thathe believes officers may not have been receptive toTullaugak's friend's story because of a run-in he'd had with police in the past.