A Cold Lake First Nations man who was shot and killed by Alberta RCMP last week has been identified by his family, who are trying to rebuild their lives after he was killed.
Farron Atkinson identified his brother, Fabian Scani, as the man killed Saturday in Cold Lake, Alta., about 300 kilometers northeast of Edmonton.
The shooting happened near 50th Street and 43rd Avenue, in an area surrounded by several businesses and restaurants.
According to an RCMP statement, two officers responded to a report of an attempted stabbing around 8 p.m. and “used their intervention options, including a firearm,” to arrest a man who they reported had an “edged weapon.”
He was taken to hospital, but died from his injuries, RCMP said.
Atkinson said he last saw Skani just last week, when he gave him a ride from Edmonton to Cold Lake.
“He was my brother. He was my blood, you know?” He said.
“And whenever he reached out to me, I helped him, we talked. We went through a lot together when he was around. He was a lovable character.”
He said Scani faced his share of struggles, including addiction, but he was hoping to find a new place to live and rebuild his life.
“We all have our problems. He's a Sixties scoop survivor like me,” he said.
“And then it all happened — it didn't make any sense.”
An RCMP statement said the death will be investigated by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team. ASIRT has not released a statement confirming the investigation.
The president says that change is necessary
Skani's death comes less than two weeks after the Assembly of First Nations called for a national inquiry into systemic racism in policing after 10 First Nations people were killed following interactions with police between August and November 2024.
Among them was 15-year-old Hose Lightning, a Samson Cree Nation boy who was shot and killed by RCMP on Aug. 30 in Wetaskiwin, Alta.
On Monday, Cold Lake First Nations Chief Kelsey Jacko said her community was “shocked and shocked by the loss of one of our own.”
The Cold Lake First Nations has about 3,000 members, less than half of whom live on one of several reserves in northeastern Alberta, near the Saskatchewan border.
Jacko is calling for support for Skani's family and loved ones, saying he will demand accountability from the investigation.
“I know we have to continue, but you know, we need change. It can't happen across Canada,” Jacco said.
“Our people are dying and it's not right. There has to be a better way of doing things.”
Over the weekend, people began laying flowers in Cold Lake around the spot where Scani was shot.
Atkinson, an ironworker, said he hopes to make the cross a permanent memorial.
“I've had enough, and my people have had enough. This is my little brother, but I'm not just fighting for him. I'm going to fight for everyone.”
