SIU says first 2 calls to 911 involving First Nation woman's death in Thunder Bay not related to violence

Warning: This story references domestic violence.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has provided an update on an ongoing investigation involving the death of a 21-year-old woman in Thunder Bay, Ont., saying the first two calls to police were not related to violence.

Jenna Ostberg of Bearskin Lake First Nation was found deadin a home on Ray Boulevard on Dec. 30. In an initial statement on Jan. 3, the SIU said it took three calls to 911 before police responded to the residence. There wasan initial call to police, a second call to cancel the request, and then a third call saying a young woman had died, according to the SIU's first release.

On Thursday afternoon, the SIU released a new statement hours after Jenna Ostberg's funeral in Thunder Bay saying the initial results of her autopsy have been received and police communications recordings have been reviewed, while witness interviews remain ongoing.

Based on the information received so far, the SIU has determined that "the 911 call initially received by the Thunder Bay Police Service was not in relation to violence in the home involving the woman."

"The caller had contacted police to report that the woman was an unwanted visitor at her home as there were court conditions that she and her son, also present in the home, were not supposed to be around each other," the statement said.

The statement says that the caller was concerned her son could be arrested for breaching court conditions, which is why she called to ask police to remove the woman from the home.

"The same caller subsequently contacted police to cancel the call for service, reporting that the woman had left the residence," the SIU statement says.

The SIU, an independent government agency, investigates the conduct of police that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm at a person. While it says the first call to police was made around 2 a.m. ET, it has not specified what time the second and third calls were made.

"The information that can be released by the SIU remains limited at this stage of the investigation," says Thursday's statement from the SIU.

Jenna Ostberg's parents, Melanie Beardy and Vincent Ostberg, identified their daughter as the victim, and told CBC News they only found out about the SIU investigation through a media release.

They described their daughter as a kind and talented young woman who was heavily involved in the community. She was a painter, worked with children, and was a beauty influencer online, they said.

The family moved from Bearskin First Nation to Thunder Bay when their four children were old enough to attend high school. Jenna Ostberg graduated this spring from a one-year program at Confederation College.

Last week,MattVis, a spokesperson for the Thunder Bay Police Service, confirmed in a statement that officers found a 21-year-old woman's body at a home on Ray Boulevard on Dec. 30and are investigating her death and the circumstances around what happened.

The Thunder Bay Police Service is co-operating with the SIU's investigation, and cannot provide any further information about the case, he said.

NAN calls for action, accountability

A number of messages have poured in from local leaders in response to Ostberg's death, including Thunder Bay's mayor and Windigo First Nations Council. Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler shared his condolences in a statement earlier on Thursday after attending Ostberg's funeral service.

"We are all grieving, and that is a necessary process. But people across Nishnawbe Aski Nation and other Nations are also angry. There is a rising demand for answers around Jenna's tragic passing and the actions of the Thunder Bay Police Service, and we fully support those calls," Fiddler said in the statement.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation represents 49 First Nation communities across northern Ontario, including Bearskin Lake.

Fiddler says he is "gravely concerned" over what he's heard about the circumstances surrounding Jenna Ostberg's death and is anxiously awaiting the results of the coroner's report and SIU investigation.

"We share the fear that their daughter was the latest victim of inadequate and unjust policing received by First Nations peoples in this city. We have suffered through too many reports and investigations into the loss of our members in Thunder Bay, but we must have faith that the truth about Jenna's passing will eventually be established," Fiddler said.

ONWA demands safety plan for Indigenous women

While Jenna Ostberg's parents say she was a victim of domestic violence, the SIU investigation has not revealed the cause of her death or whether foul play is suspected. Ostberg's parents told CBC News their daughter was a champion for women's rights and always stood up for those around her.

The Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA) expressed its condolences to Jenna Ostberg's family in a statement Tuesday, while calling for more action to protect Indigenous women in Thunder Bay.

"ONWA calls on the broader Thunder Bay community to stand in solidarity and work with Indigenous leadership to prevent the further loss of young Indigenous people's lives," it said."ONWA encourages quick action through the development of an Indigenous Women's Community Safety Plan for the City of Thunder Bay."

A joint statement was also issued on Jan. 5 by Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Lise Vaugeois, Solicitor General Critic John Vanthof, and Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa in response to Jenna Ostberg's death.

"Losing a young First Nations woman with a bright future is an immeasurable loss. We are witnessing a pattern of neglect within a system designed to perpetuate the struggles of First Nations," Mamakwa said. "Unfortunately, it has reached a point where communities can't rely on the police's word, and families are forced to open separate investigations for justice."

Vanthof said the government needs to make sure police are equipped with specialized training "to respond to and prevent such heartbreaking incidents in the future."

The SIU encourages anyone with information about this investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online.

Mental health, domestic violence resources

Confederation College has shared mental health resources to help those grieving the loss of Jenna Ostberg. The school lowered its flags to half-mast in her honour Jan. 5.

The college's crisis response navigator can be reached through college security at 922. On-site counsellors are also available for students, along with additional support through each department.

The college also encourages those who need immediate assistance to contact the Canadian Mental Health Association's crisis response line at 807-346-8282. The national suicide and crisis helpline can be reached at 1-833-456-4566 or 988.

A list of resources in Thunder Bay for victims of domestic violence can be found here. Thunder Bay and Area Victim Services has a 24/7 crisis line that can be reached at 807-684-1051. If you are in an emergency, call 911.